WP(C) 1936/2011 BEFORE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE B.K. SHARMA Heard Mr. Buragohain, learned counsel of the petitioners as well as Mr. S.P. Das , learned Standing counsel, Director of Employment & Craftsman Training. I have also heard Ms. R. Chokraborty, learned Addl. Sr. Govt. Advocate. By means of this writ petition, the two petitioners have prayed for a di rection to the respondents to appoint them as Instructor (Fitter) on the basis o f the selection and recommendation made by the Assam Staff Section Board way bac k in 1996 (12.08.96). The writ petition was filed on 23.03.2011, nearly 15 years after the purported recommendation for appointment of the petitioners in the ye ar 1996. On being asked about the delay in filing the writ petition, learned cou nsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners had been making representa tions and eventually sought for information through the RTI Act. But as disclose d by the respondents, the records are not traceable. The petitioners have placed reliance on the purported select list of 199 6 towards claiming appointment. They have enclosed the copies of the representat ions of 1998 and 2000. Nearly 13 years after the purported selection, the petiti oners sought for information through RTI Act. Their applications for furnishing information were dealt with by the authorities of the RTI Act and it was indicat ed that the records pertaining to the selection are not available. Petitioners having slept over the matter for the last 15 years, cannot n ow claim their appointment on the basis of the selection made in the year 1996. If they were aggrieved by their non appointment pursuant to the purported select ion in 1996, they ought to have taken recourse to such legal action as was avail able to them. Having not done so and having approached the writ court after long 15 years, they are not entitled to any direction from this Court. Delay itself defeats remedy. For all the aforesaid reasons, I do not find any merit in the writ petit ion to entertain the same at this belated stage. Accordingly, the writ petition is dismissed.