In Brief
Employees of the Food Corporation of India who had initially claimed scheduled tribe status but later declined caste scrutiny sought relief against High Court orders directing discontinuance of their payments and recovery of amounts disbursed. The Supreme Court held that employees covered by a final 2012 judgment—which had granted protection of appointments and limited benefits—were entitled only to relief specifically outlined in that judgment. Benefits granted after 28 November 2000 based on caste status could not be recovered in subsequent proceedings, as the prior judgment had become final. The Court modified the impugned orders accordingly and disposed of the appeal.
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