JUDGMENT :

Manoj Kumar Gupta, C.J.

1. Heard Ms. Pinky Anand, learned Senior Counsel, assisted by Mr. Lalit Belwal, learned counsel for the appellants and Mr. T.A.Khan, learned Senior Counsel, assisted by Mr. Mohd. Shafy, learned counsel for the respondents.

2. The appeal is beyond time by 380 days. Although the appeal is highly belated as there is no satisfactory explanation for the delay, however, on persuasion of learned Senior Counsel appearing for the appellants, we also examined the order of the learned Single Judge dated 30.08. 2022, which reads as follows:

“Mr. T.A. Khan, Senior Advocate, assisted by Mohd. Shafy, Advocate, holding brief of Mr. Vinay Bhatt, Advocate for the petitioners.

Mr. V.K. Kohli, Senior Advocate, assisted by Mr. Kanti Ram Sharma, Advocate, holding brief of Mr. I.P. Kohli, Advocate for respondents.

Heard learned counsel for the parties.

Petitioners are contract employees engaged to discharge duty as Mali