IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.5507 of 2007 Md.Jaweed Aslam, SON OF LATE ZAHEERUL HAQUE, RESIDENT OF VILLAGE- DAHUABARI, P.S.- KOCCHADHAMAN, DISTRICT- KISHANGANJ :---PETITIONER. Versus 1. The State Of Bihar 2. THE SECRETARY-CUM-COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, GOVT. OF BIHAR, PATNA. 3. THE CHIEF ENGINEER, DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, PURNEA, P.S. & DISTRICT- PURNEA. 4. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF ENGINEER, MAHANANDA FLOOD CONTROL DIVISION, KATIHAR, P.S. & DISTRICT- KATIHAR. 5. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, MAHANANDA FLOOD CONTROL DIVISION, KATIHAR, P.S. & DISTRICT- KATIHAR. 6. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, FLOOD CONTROL SUB- DIVISION, KADOGOLA, P.S.- KADAGOLA, DISTRICT- KATIHAR :---RESPONDENTS. ---------------------------------- For the petitioner :- M/S Md. Anis Akhtar, Md. Rashid Alam, Advocates. For the State :- Mr. Bikash Tiwary, A.C. to G.A.-4. ====== 3. 14.11.2011. Learned counsel for the petitioner is permitted to correct the typographical mistake in Annexure-7. 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and the State. 3. Petitioner is aggrieved by the communication bearing Letter No. 149 dated 08.07.2000, issued by the Executive Engineer, Flood Control Division, Karha Gola, Annexure-7 informing the petitioner that his services as Tracer has been terminated under Letter No. 960 dated 11.5.1981 with effect from 5.7.1980, the date from which he is absent from duty. 4. It is submitted on behalf of the petitioner that aforesaid letter dated 8.7.2000 was 2 served on him after four years of the issue of the said letter and statement to that effect has been made in Paragraph 15 of the writ petition. In the light of the aforesaid submission this Court examined the contents of Paragraph 15, wherefrom it appears that petitioner has stated in the said paragraph that after recovery from ailment he submitted his joining but after about four years he was informed that his service has already been terminated. From the certificate granted by Dr. B. Manjhi, Civil Assistant Surgeon, Kochadhaman dated 14.6.1997, Annexure-5/B it appears that petitioner was under treatment of Dr. Manjhi for the period 15.10.1996-14.6.1997 whereafter he was cured of the mental illness and was declared fit to resume his duties. After being declared fit by Dr. Manjhi petitioner submitted his joining on 21.6.1997 and other reminders including the one dated 10.6.2000. Authorities considered the request of the petitioner to permit him to join and rejected the same under Letter No. 149 dated 8.7.2000 with reference to his last request to accept joining contained in letter dated 10.6.2000, Annexure-6 stating that his services has already been terminated under Letter No. 960 dated 11.5.1981 with effect from 5.7.1980, the date from which he remained absent from his duty. 3 5. Aforesaid letter dated 8.7.2000 has been challenged by filing this writ petition before this Court on 26.4.2007 i.e. after about 7 years of the receipt of the impugned letter dated 8.7.2000, Annexure-7. In Paragraph 15 of the writ petition no averment has been made that there was delay on the part of the authorities to serve the letter dated 8.7.2000 on the petitioner. 6. Petitioner having not challenged the contents of letter dated 08.07.2000, Annexure-7 within a reasonable time, I am not inclined to entertain the writ petition, which is dismissed on the ground of laches. P.K.P. (V.N.Sinha,J.)