IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) Monday, the Thirteenth Day of September, Two Thousand and Four Present : The Hon’ble Mr.Justice J.CHELAMESWAR And The Hon’ble Mr.Justice B.SESHASAYANA REDDY W.P.No.13153 of 2004 Between : K.Ramachandra Reddy, S/oJayarami Reddy, Aged :About 64 years, Residing at Tirupati, Chittoor District .. Petitioner And 1. The Director of Collegiate Education, Hyderabad 2. The Chairman, Collegiate Service Commission, Gagan Vihar, Mukramzahi Road, Hyderabad 3. P.Veeraswamy, S/o Vengaiah, Aged : About 66 years, Principal, Government Degree College, Sullurpet, Nellore District 4. P.Nagamuni Reddy, S/o Narasimha Reddy, Aged : About 55 years, Principal, Government Degree College, Kurnool District .. Respondents (R-3 and R-4 or formal parties) Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying the High Court to issue an appropriate Writ, order or direction more in nature of WRIT OF MANDAMUS, call for the records from the A.P.Administrative Tribunal in O.A.No.6324 of 1993, dated 1.11.2002 and set aside the same and further direct the respondents to consider the petitioner’s case for the promotion to the post of Principal in Rc.No.1417/83-86, dated 6.3.1986 and Rc.No.1417/C3-4/88, dated 4.8.1988 and D.O.Lr.No.4810/GC-1/4/92, dated 28.8.1992 and pass such other order or orders as this Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case. Counsel for the petitioner : Mr.Y.Narasimha Reddy Counsel for the respondents No.1 &2 : Government Pleader for Higher Education The Court at the stage of admission made the following ORDER : (per BSSR,J) This writ petition is filed challenging the order of the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal in O.A.No,6324 of 1993 dated 1.11.2002. The writ petition is filed on 30th April, 2004 i.e., almost after a lapse of 1 ½ years from the date of the judgment. The petitioner filed an affidavit seeking to explain the reason for the delay and the laches. From the affidavit, it appears that the petitioner’s wife was suffering from cancer and therefore he has to travel twice to America and thereafter himself fell sick. It is worthwhile noting that the petitioner was away to America from June, 2001 to June, 2002, for a period of one year. It is not that he is incapacitated from communicating with his Counsel. Nothing prevented the petitioner for taking appropriate steps to challenge the order of the above mentioned O.A., if he has really aggrieved by the said order. We are not convinced with the explanation. The writ petition is dismissed on the ground of laches. -------------- knk 13.09.2004 To 1. The Director of Collegiate Education, Hyderabad 2. The Chairman, Collegiate Service Commission, Gagan Vihar, Mukramzahi Road, Hyderabad 3. The Registrar, A.P.Administrative Tribunal, Hyderabad. 4. Two CCs to the G.P. Higher Education, High Court Bhildings, Hyderabad (OUT). 5. 2 CD Copies