Any public employee who leaves a position or who left such position not earlier than June 27, 1950, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, in order to perform military duty, or who was performing military duty on June 27, 1950, and who is relieved or discharged from such duty under conditions other than dishonorable, and makes application for reemployment within ninety (90) days after such employee is relieved from military duty or from hospitalization continuing after discharge for a period of not more than one (1) year shall:
(1) If still physically qualified to perform the duties of such position, be restored to such position if it exists and is not held by a person with greater seniority, otherwise to a position of like seniority, status and pay; or(2) If not qualified to perform the duties of such position by reason of disability sustained during such service, such public employee shall be placed in such other position, the duties of which such employee is qualified to perform as will provide the employee like seniority, status and pay, or the nearest approximation thereof consistent with the circumstances of the case.Acts 1951, ch. 112, § 2 (Williams, § 1034.74); modified; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 8-3302.