JUDGMENT :

SANJAYA KUMAR MISHRA, J.

I.A. No. 1276 of 2023

1. There is a delay of 237 days in preferring this intra-court appeal.

2. Heard the learned counsels appearing for the parties.

3. It is apparent from the records that a substantial amount of public money is involved in this case.

4. The order impugned was passed on 15.03.2022 and the appeal has been filed on 23.12.2022.

5. By virtue of the directives given by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in suo motu Writ Petition (C) No. 03 of 2020, the limitation shall be supposed to start from 1st of July, 2022. Of course, even then there is a delay in preferring the appeal of about four months, however, it is further borne out from the records that the delay has been caused because of laches on the part of the certain Government officials in processing the file. For the laches of the Government officials, the interest of State and society should not be allowed to suffer. In that view of the matter, we are inclined to allow the application for condonation of delay. Moreover, we see that reasonable opportunity was granted to the respondent-writ petitioner to file a counter affidavit/objection to the application for condonation of delay, but no objec