IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA LPA No.1025 of 2008 MAHARANA PRATAP SINGH, S/o Late Dinanath Singh, R/o village-Majhauan, P.S.Arrah Town, District Bhojpur.--- Appellant. Versus 1. The BIHAR STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, through its Secretary, Vidyut Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna 2. The Chairman, Bihar State Electricity Board, Vidyut Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna 3. The Secretary, Bihar State Electricity Board, Vidyut Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna 4. The Joint Secretary, Bihar State Electricity Board, Vidyut Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna-- Respondents. ---- For the appellant : Dr. Amar Nath Singh For the respondents : Mr. Vinay Kirti Singh ----- 2. 09.1.2009. Writ petitioner-appellant, aggrieved by the order dated 14.11.2008 passed by a learned Single Judge in C.W.J.C.No.12915 of 2000 dismissing the writ application, has preferred this appeal under Clause 10 of the Letters Patent. Dr.Amar Nath Singh, appears for the appellant. Respondents are represented by Mr. Vinay Kirti Singh. Writ petitioner was subjected to a departmental proceeding in which the Disciplinary Authority inflicted punishment of dismissal from service. The Appellate Authority affirmed the same by order dated 20th July, 1998. Writ petitioner challenged the aforesaid 2 order by filing the writ application on 11.12.2000. It was contended before the learned single Judge that the writ petitioner was not given an opportunity to place his case before the Inquiry Officer. It did not find favour of the learned Single Judge. Further, the learned Single found the writ petition to be suffering from delay and laches and accordingly, dismissed the same. From perusal of the inquiry report, it is evident that the writ petitioner appeared before the Inquiry Officer and lastly prayed to be represented by a counsel. That prayer was allowed and thereafter, he failed to appear before the Inquiry Officer. Therefore, it cannot be said that the writ petitioner was denied opportunity to appear before the Inquiry Officer. If he had not appeared before the Inquiry Officer, he is to blame himself for that. We do not find any merit in the appeal and it is dismissed accordingly. ahk (C. K. Prasad, ACJ) (Dr. Ravi Ranjan)