IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.2014 of 2003 1.SITA RAM PASWAN, son of Daroga Paswan, resident of Village Surajgarha, P.S.Surajgarha, District Lakhisarai. 2.Ramanuj Singh, son of Sivadhari Singh, resident of village Nayatola, Salempur, P.O. Surjgarha, District Lakhisarai. 3.Sukhdeo Sahu, son of Tulo Sahu, resident of Village Kiranpur, P.O. Kiranpur, District Lakhisarai. 4.Anik Lal Yadav, son of Subalal Yadav, resident of village Abgil (Rampur), P.O.Surjgarha, District Lakhisarai. 5.Om Prakash Yadav, son of Subalal yadav, resident of village Sonebersa, P.O. Shanaho, P.S. Samho, District Begusrai. 6.Basudeo Mahto, son of Lalji Mahto, resident of village Baha Chauki, P.S. Dharhara, District Lakhisarai. 7.Bhuwneswar Prasad Mahto, son of Gulab Mahto, resident of village Jhapani, P.S. Kiranpur, (Surjgarha), District Lakhisarai. 8.Vakil Singh, son of Ramji Singh, resident of village Gopalpur, P.O. & P.S. Surajgarha, District Lakhisarai. 9.Nathuni Prasad Singh, son of Prasad Singh, resident of village Deodhara Tola P.S. Medni Chanki, District Lakhisarai. Versus 1.THE STATE OF BIHAR 2.The Director, Primary Education, Bihar, Patna. 3.The District Superintendent of Education, Lakhisarai. 4.The District Treasury Officer, Lakhisarai. ----------- 3 26.7.2010 No one appears for the petitioners. Counsel for the State is present. In this writ petition nine petitioners after their retirement from different schools have filed this common writ application for the following reliefs:- “That the petitioners crave indulgence of this Hon’ble Court for issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus or an appropriate order or direction directing the respondents to make payment of the difference of salary and other dues relating to salary which is due as yet and to pass such other order or orders which your Lordships deem fit and proper under the circumstances of the case.” The respondents have not filed any counter affidavit and as such the claim of difference of amount for the period 2 1.1.1971 to 31.3.1973, 1.4.1997 to 30.4.1999 cannot be decided in one common writ petition especially when they were not working in the same school. Such stale claim of payment of salary of the petitioners for the year 1971 raised before this Court only after 32 years of cause of action even otherwise cannot be entertained on the ground of gross delay and laches on the part of the petitioners. Therefore, this writ application must be and is hereby dismissed only on the ground of delay and laches. Abhay Kumar ( Mihir Kumar Jha, J.)