( 1 ) THE petitioner, who had been temporarily appointed as the Secretary, Kendra panchayat, Makdone, in District Ujjain, was removed from service by the order of the Director, Panchayat and Samaj Sewa, dated 19-10-1957. He addressed the government what he describes as "a revision application" and got on 20-2-1959, that is, about a year and a half after the removal, an unfavourable reply, after it, he took some months to obtain certain certified copies and ultimately filed this petition in October 1959. His allegation is that the authority that dismissed him is not the authority that appointed him and, further that it is subordinate; the requirements of Article 311 of the Constitution have not been fulfilled; and again, that in regard to some of the grounds of removal, he had not been called upon or provided an Opportunity to explain or show cause. The questions for decision are, firstly, as a preliminary point, whether a delay of about sixteen months spent in seeking relief in a manner admittedly not provided by statute or rules, should be condoned by this Court; secondly, whether an employee of a local authority--though appointed by Government--is in the civil servic