Final order protection preserves vested benefits against later conflicting directions; non-parties may pursue review or tribunal remedies.

A final order in favour of specific parties preserves their vested career benefits and cannot be negated by a subsequent court direction insofar as it affects those beneficiaries; the appellants' benefits are therefore protected and their appeal is allowed. Persons not impleaded in earlier proceedings who are prejudicially affected retain legally recognised remedies and may pursue limited review or fresh proceedings before the appropriate tribunal; the present order grants liberty to seek such remedies without determining those individual claims.

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Issues: (i) Whether the impugned High Court order can adversely affect appellants who had earlier obtained a favourable final order from this Court; (ii) Whether persons not impleaded in earlier proceedings but aggrieved by their outcome have a remedy and the nature of such remedy.

Issue (i): Whether the High Court's directions impinge upon the finality and benefits of this Court's earlier order in favour of the appellants.

Analysis: The appellants had obtained a final order from this Court granting reliefs, and promotions were thereafter made in compliance with that order. The appeal examines whether the High Court could, in effect, revisit or negate the specific reliefs already granted by this Court to the appellants.

Conclusion: The High Court's impugned order shall not affect the appellants' career prospects or the benefits flowing from this Court's earlier order; the appeal by the appellants is allowed.

Issue (ii): Whether persons who were not parties to earlier proceedings but are adversely affected by the orders have an available remedy and what form it may take.

Analysis: The judgment considers established precedents addressing remedies for non-parties affected by prior orders, distinguishing limited review remedies and fresh proceedings before the administrative tribunal under section 19 where appropriate; the affected persons are permitted to pursue remedies in accordance with law.

Conclusion: Persons not impleaded in earlier proceedings who are aggrieved may seek appropriate reliefs in the appropriate forum, including review or fresh proceedings as governed by law; the connected special leave petition and interim applications are disposed of while granting liberty to pursue remedies.

Final Conclusion: The appeals are allowed insofar as they protect and preserve the appellants' benefits under this Court's earlier order; other aggrieved non-parties are granted liberty to pursue available legal remedies before appropriate forums without the present order deciding those individual claims.

Ratio Decidendi: A final order of this Court in favour of specific parties cannot be undone by a subsequent High Court direction insofar as it affects those parties' vested benefits, and persons not made parties to earlier proceedings who are prejudicially affected have recourse to legally recognised remedies (limited review or fresh proceedings before the appropriate tribunal) to challenge or seek reconsideration of the earlier decision.

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