Utpalendu Bikas Saha, J.

1. By this application Under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963 read with Rule 2(2) of Chapter V-A of the Rules of Gauhati High Court, the petitioner prays for condonation of delay of 554 days in preferring the appeal against the judgment and order dated 07.01.05 passed by the learned single Judge in W.P. (C) No. 761 of 2004 wherein and whereunder the learned single Judge directed the petitioner-appellant to promote the respondent-writ petitioner in the next higher scale of pay w.e.f. the date of his completion of 12 years regular service as Inspector (Sericulture). The respondent-writ petitioner, as against the prayer for condonation of delay, filed objection by way of affidavit.

2. Heard Mr. N. Ibotombi, learned Counsel for the petitioner appellant as well as Mr. Kh. Binoy Kumar, learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent-writ petitioner.

3. In support of the contention, as stated in the petition for condonation of delay, Mr. N. Ibotombi submits that the delay caused is bonafide and not intentional as the Government is a machinery impersonal and nobody is looking the interest of the Government properly though some of the employees/offic