G.S. SANDHAWALIA, J.

1. The present judgment shall dispose of three appeals i.e. LPA Nos.752 to 754 of 2002, since common question of law and facts are involved. Facts are being taken from LPA No.752 of 2002 ‘Union of India Vs. Jagdev Singh and others’.

2. The present appeal is directed against the order of the learned Single Judge dated 05.10.2001, whereby the Regular First Appeal of the Union of India was dismissed on the ground of being barred by limitation, as there was a delay of 960 days in re-filing the appeal and there was also a delay of 97 days in filing the appeal. A period of 40 days is provided for removal of discrepancies under the High Court Rules and Orders and learned Single Judge came to the conclusion that the impersonal approach was adopted by the public servants in pursuing the affairs of the State and no plausible reason was forth coming to explain why the appeals could not have been presented in time. It was, accordingly, held that it was an unexplainable default which borders negligence and there was a callousness on behalf of the appellants and their representatives, since the appeal was returned by the Office on 08.12.1998, but was not filed till 19.09.2001.