Achintya Malla Bujor Barua, J.

1. Heard Mr. D. Saikia, learned Senior Additional Advocate General Assam for the applicant. Also heard Mr. M. Sarania, learned counsel for the respondents. This is an interlocutory application for condoning the delay of 297 days in preferring the accompanying writ appeal.

2. The respondents herein had preferred a writ petition being WP(C) No. 5324/2012, inter alia, praying for setting aside the order dated 31.03.2011 of the Principal Secretary to the Govt. of Assam, in the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, wherein a decision was taken that in respect of such families affected in the ethnic violence of 1993, 1996 and 1998 and who had returned back to their respective homes after normalcy had prevailed are entitled to a compensation of Rs. 10,000/- per family and their claims for enhancement of the relief grant from Rs. 10,000/- to Rs. 50,000/- per family were rejected. Further relief for a direction to the respondent authorities to enhance the rehabilitation grant to Rs. 40,000/- per family was also made.

3. The State Government authorities in the response thereof took the stand that a categorization was made between the families, who wer