IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY AT GOA MISC.CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 71 OF 2010 IN STAMP NUMBER MAIN NO. 1967 OF 2009 DEPUTY COLLECTOR (LA) MARGAO AND ANR., ... Applicants Versus MR. RENATO R. DIAS AND ANR., ... Respondents Mr. Manish Salkar, Additional Government Advocate for the applicants. Mr. C. A. Coutinho, Advocate for the respondents. Coram:- A. P. LAVANDE, J. Date:- 25th August, 2011 P.C. Heard Mr. Salkar, learned Additional Government Advocate for the applicants and Mr. Coutinho, learned Counsel for the respondents. 2. This is an application seeking condonation of delay of 763 days on the ground that the officers of the department had not contacted the Government Advocate to file the appeal against the award by which the compensation in respect of the acquired land has been increased from Rs.24/- to 100/- per square metre. In the event the appeal filed by the State Government is dismissed, the State Government will be saddled with the liability of about ten lacs. 3. The application has been vehemently opposed on behalf of the respondents on the ground that no sufficient cause has been made out for condonation of delay. 4. This matter discloses a very sorry state of affairs. In spite of repeated orders passed by this Court imposing costs while condoning delay in filing appeals, revisions etc, it appears that the State Government has not taken effective steps to file proceedings before this Court within the period of limitation prescribed under the different Statutes. If the present application for condonation of delay is dismissed, the same will result in dismissal of the appeal thereby saddling the Government with a liability for about ten lacs and this will be only on account of the negligence on the part of the officers of the State Government as disclosed from the application itself. 5. In my considered opinion, therefore, the delay deserves to be condoned subject to imposition of exemplary costs which are quantified at Rs.50,000/- (Rs.fifty thousand only). The State Government shall hold an enquiry as to the officers/persons responsible for the delay in filing the present appeal. The enquiry shall be conducted by the officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary, Government of Goa fixing the responsibility of the concerned persons/ officers for the delay in filing the appeal. The enquiry shall be completed within a period of three months from today. The applicants shall file compliance report within a period of four weeks thereafter and also file compliance report regarding recovery of costs from the persons/ officers responsible for the delay within four weeks thereafter. 6. The costs initially shall be deposited in this Court by the State Government within a period of four weeks and thereafter, the same shall be recovered from the concerned officers/ persons. After the costs are deposited, liberty to the respondents to withdraw the costs. 5. The application stands allowed in aforesaid terms. A. P. LAVANDE, J. SMA