IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.18098 of 2009 1. MD.NUMAN KHAN S/O MD. NIZAMUDDIN KHAN R/O VILL MATHILA, P.S.KURANSARAI,DISTT-BUXAR Versus 1. THE UNION OF INDIA THROUGH THE SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, NEW DELHI 2. THE STATE OF BIHAR THROUGH THE CHIEF SECRETARY GOVERNEMENT OF BIHAR, PATNA 3. UNDER SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA , MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS NEW DELHI 4. THE COMMISSIONER -CUM -SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HOME GOVERNEMENT OF BIHAR, PATNA 5. THE DISTRICT MAGISTRATE BUXAR 6. THE SUB DIVISIONAL MAGISTRATE BUXAR 7. MD. ISHAQUE KHAN S/O MD. TASAWOOR KHAN R/O VILL NAUTAN DUBEY TOLA, SANTA, P.S.NAUTAN, DISTT-WEST CHAMPARAN 8. MD. LALAN KHAN S/O MD. ISHAQUE KHAN R/O VILL NAUTAN DUBEY TOLA, SANTA, P.S.NAUTAN, DISTT-WEST CHAMPARAN 9. MD. AKBAR KHAN S/O MD. ISDHAQUE KHAN AT PRESENT RESIDING IN VILLAGE MATHILA, P.S.KURANSARAI, DISTT-BUXAR ----------- 2/ 28/01/2011 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the Union Of India. The petitioner questions the citizenship of the country as conferring national status on respondent Nos.7 to 9 by an order dated 5.3.2002 of the Central Government in exercise of powers under Section-9(2) of the Citizenship Act. The writ petition was filed more than seven and a half years later in December, 2009. There is no explanation in paragraph-19 of the writ application for this long inordinate delay, much less does the petitioner even choose to disclose when he came to know of the order dated 5.3.2002. - 2 - Clearly, the private respondents have had the benefit of the impugned order for long years. They have set up hearth and home and they must have invested in property, their child’s education etc. and undoubtedly grave prejudice shall be caused to them if this Court were to take up the issues at this belated stage without any explanation for the delay. The writ application stands dismissed on grounds of delay and laches. KC ( Navin Sinha, J.)