Final precedent foreclosed challenge to settlement applications, and the direction to decide them on merits was upheld.

Writ appeals challenging a direction to the Interim Board for Settlement to consider settlement applications on merits were rejected after the supporting precedent had attained finality. The appeals had arisen from refusal of the applications as non-maintainable, but the underlying judgment had already been carried in special leave and the Supreme Court dismissed the SLP, leaving that precedent undisturbed. In that setting, no useful purpose remained in reopening the matter, and the direction to adjudicate the settlement applications on merits was maintained. The challenge failed and the appeals were dismissed.

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Issues: Whether the writ appeals challenging the direction to the Interim Board for Settlement to consider the settlement applications on merits could be sustained after the supporting precedent had attained finality.

Analysis: The appeals arose from rejection of settlement applications on the ground of non-maintainability. The judgment relied on by the Single Judge had been carried in special leave and the Supreme Court had dismissed the SLP, leaving the precedent undisturbed. In that background, no useful purpose remained in continuing an adjudication on the rejected settlement applications, and the direction to consider the applications on merits was maintained.

Conclusion: The challenge failed. The writ appeals were dismissed and the Interim Board for Settlement was directed to adjudicate the applicants' settlement applications on merits.

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