IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD MONDAY, THE SIXTEENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND NINE PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE V.ESWARAIAH AND THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE VILAS V. AFZULPURKAR WRIT APPEAL No: 1004 of 2000 (Writ Appeal under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent against the Order dated 23.06.2000 in WP.No.10363 of 2000 on the file of the High Court.) BETWEEN: APSRTC, Rep. by its Depot Manager, Janagaon Depot, Warangal District and another. ... APPELLANTS AND P. Anjaiaha, Ex.Driver (died) per LRs and others. ...RESPONDENTS Counsel for the Appellants: MR.V.T.M.PRASAD (S.C.FOR APSRTC) Counsel for the Respondents: SMT.G.JYOTHI KIRAN The Court made the following: JUDGMENT: (per Hon’ble Sri Justice Vilas V. Afzulpurkar) The appellants being aggrieved by the award of the Industrial Tribunal dated 19.03.1999 in I.D.No.232 of 1995, filed Writ Petition No.10363 of 2000 and the said writ petition came to be dismissed by order dated 23.06.2000, at the admission stage by the learned Single Judge, primarily on the ground that there was inordinate delay in approaching this Court in challenging the award. Questioning the same the present appeal is filed. 2. We have heard the learned counsel for the appellants. 3. It is seen from the record that award is dated 19.03.1999 and the same was published on 07.08.1999. The appellants filed the writ petition in February 2000 i.e. barely within six months. The delay in approaching this Court, therefore, cannot be said to be inordinate as found by the learned Single Judge. Further, at the time of admitting this appeal, this Court by order dated 21.09.2000, had stayed the operation of the impugned award passed in I.D.No.232 of 1995 to the extent of giving appointment on compassionate grounds and the said order continues even today. 4. In the circumstances, we are of the opinion that the writ petition deserves to be heard and disposed of merits. Accordingly, the impugned order of the learned Single Judge is set aside and the writ petition is restored to file and the same shall be listed before the learned Single Judge to be heard and disposed of on merits. The writ appeal is accordingly allowed. There shall be no order as to costs. ______________ V. ESWARAIAH, J _____________________ VILAS V. AFZULPURKAR, J February 16, 2009 DSK