A writ petition challenging an administrative order may be dismissed if there is an inordinate and unexplained delay in filing the application.

ORAL ORDER

(Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SUDHIR SINGH)

05-02-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the respondents.

2. The following reliefs have been sought for by the petitioner in the present writ application:

“1(i) For issuance of an appropriate writ for quashing of the Show Cause dated 17.10.2022 contained in Letter No. 2375 issued by the Executive Engineer, Minor Irrigation Division, Gaya (Annexure-P/1) whereby the petitioner has been asked to show cause as to why for the alleged act of tampering/interpolating in the Performance Certificate which is not as per the terms of the Tender, appropriate action under Bihar Contractors Registration Rules, 2007 and I.P.C/Cr.P.C. be not taken;

(ii) For issuance of an appropriate writ for quashing of the consequential order dated 13.04.2023 contained in Letter No. 305 (Annexure-P/2) by which, the then In-charge Chief Engineer, Minor Irrigation Department, Patna (Respondent No. 4)) has black listed the registration of the petitioner for a period of 10 years in terms of Rule 11(a)(vii) of the Bihar Contractors Registration Rules, 2007 on the basis of a Show Cause Notice issued by an incompetent authority and without even referring to the causes shown by the petitioner.

(iii) For issuance of an appropriate writ for restraining the respondents from giving effect to taking any percipitative/coercive action arising out of the aforesaid order of blacklisting and the dispute during the pendency of the present writ application and/or without the leave of this Hon’ble Court.

(iv) For issuance of any other appropriate writ/writs, order/orders, direction/directions, relief/reliefs as Your Lordship may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case.”

3. The petitioner was blacklisted vide order dated 13.04.2023 (Annexure-P/2). The present writ application has been instituted assailing the aforesaid order only in the year 2026.

4. We find no satisfactory explanation for inordinate delay. In view of unexplained lapses of a considerable period of time, this Court finds no reason to entertain the present writ application at this belated stage.

5. Accordingly, the present writ application stands dismissed.

6. Pending application(s), if any, shall also stand disposed of.