JUDGMENT :

A.M. KHANWILKAR, J.

1. These cases essentially assail the orders dated 4.12.2018 and 2.3.2020 issued by the Chief Engineer (A-2-1), Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam, Lucknow¹ [for short “the Chief Engineer” or “respondents”] pursuant to the judgment of this Court dated 15.11.2018 in Civil Appeal Nos. 11017-11018/2018 [Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam and Others vs. Ajit Singh Patel and Others, (2019) 12 SCC 285]. This Court by the aforesaid judgment, had directed the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (the respondent corporation) to comply with the judgment of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad² [for short “the High Court”] dated 28.11.2017 in a batch of writ petitions (leading case being Writ Appeal No. 37143/2017) and pass a fresh, reasoned order.

2. In pursuance of the aforementioned decision of this Court, the Chief Engineer issued order dated 4.12.2018, thereby reengaging the petitioners and other appointees to their previous place of posting. However, with a caveat that the said appointment was subject to the liberty granted by this Court and that no arrears would be paid by the respondent corporation. The order of the Chief Engineer dated 4.12.2018 is reproduced thus:

“The order dated 11.8