JUDGMENT :

(Arun Bhansali, CJ.)

1. Heard Shri Sanjay Kaushal, learned Senior Counsel, assisted by Shri Chandra Bhan Gupta and Shri Manoj Kumar Dubey, learned counsel for the appellant, Shri Man Mohan Singh, learned counsel for respondent No. 1 and Shri Manish Goyal, learned Additional Advocate General, assisted by Shri Ankit Gaur, learned Standing Counsel for the State-respondents.

2. This special appeal, under Chapter VIII Rule 5 of the Allahabad High Court Rules (for short ‘Rules’), is directed against order dated 11.12.2023, passed by learned Single Judge in Writ – C No. 39505 of 2023, whereby the said writ petition along with 60 other connected writ petitions, filed by the appellant/petitioner-Company, aggrieved of the reference made by the State Government to the Labour Court, Gautam Buddh Nagar, under Section 4-K of the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (for short ‘UPID Act’), has been dismissed.

3. The office has reported the appeal as barred by 98 days.

4. An application, supported by affidavit, seeking condonation of delay in filing the appeal has been filed.

5. Though the affidavit, giving out reasons for condonation of delay, is very cursory and only formality sake,