In Brief
The Union of India challenged a High Court order directing it to adjust officers in the Indian Forest Service who were originally promoted in 1996 under a now-quashed combined vacancy list but were not selected in the subsequent year-wise review selection committee. The Supreme Court held that the High Court's omnibus relief was unsustainable because the review selection committee recommendations were never challenged. However, for one officer (respondent no. 13) who, while not selected, continued as a de facto IFS member under the Court's interim order until retirement in 2013, the Court exercised Article 142 power to treat him as an IFS officer for pension and retirement benefits, protecting the advantages he had accrued during his de facto tenure.
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