JUDGMENT :

M.S. Ramachandra Rao, C.J.

I.A. No. 680 of 2025

1. This application is filed under Section 5 of the LIMITATION ACT , 1963 by the applicants to condone the delay of 377 days in filing the Letters Patent Appeal challenging the judgment dt. 07.12.2023 of the learned Single Judge in W.P. (S) No. 34 of 2022.

2. In the application seeking condonation of delay, it is stated that the passing of the impugned order was informed by the counsel for the respondents to the Finance Department of the State of Jharkhand immediately; after receiving the letter on 16.10.2024, the case file was put up before the Deputy Secretary of the applicants’ Department to examine the legal impact of the outcome of the order passed on 07.12.2023 and thereafter a decision was taken to place the case file along with entire records before the Law Department with respect to filing the appeal on 18.10.2024.

3. It is then stated that on 21.10.2024, the file was put up before the Special Secretary of the Finance Department to take appropriate steps in regard to the filing of the appeal; he then took a decision to place the case file along with entire records before the Law Department; in the meantime, legal opin