IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) THURSDAY, THE FIRST DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND SEVEN PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE J.CHELAMESWAR AND THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE P.SWAROOP REDDY WRIT PETITION No.1382 OF 2007 Between: The State of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by its Secretary to Government, Revenue (Registration and Stamps Department), Secretariat Buildings, Hyderabad, And others. ... PETITIONERS AND Sri A.Rama Rao ...RESPONDENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE J.CHELAMESWAR AND THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE P.SWAROOP REDDY WRIT PETITION No.1382 OF 2007 O R D E R (Per Sri Justice J.Chelameswar) This writ petition is filed challenging an order dated 5th December, 2005 in O.A.No.411 of 2003 on the file of A.P. Administrative Tribunal. By the said order, the A.P. Administrative Tribunal directed that pending disciplinary enquiry pending against the respondent herein be completed within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of the said order, failing which the disciplinary proceedings pending against the respondent shall be deemed to have lapsed and with a further direction that in such an event, the respondent shall be entitled to all pensionary benefits. Aggrieved by the said decision, the present writ petition is filed by the Government on 23.01.2007, which is more one year after the impugned order was passed. No explanation whatsoever was initially offered for the delay. Confronted with this question on an earlier occasion when the matter came up for admission, the petitioners took time to file an affidavit explaining the delay. Accordingly, the matter was adjourned to this day. Today, when the matter is taken up, an additional affidavit is filed by the third petitioner purporting to explain the delay in filing the writ petition. The contents of the affidavit do not disclose any valid reason. In the circumstances, we are of the opinion, that the writ petition is barred by laches and the same is accordingly dismissed at the admission stage itself. No costs. ----------------------------------- JUSTICE J.CHELAMESWAR -------------------------------------- JUSTICE P.SWAROOP REDDY 1ST MARCH, 2007 PGS THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE J.CHELAMESWAR AND THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE P.SWAROOP REDDY WRIT PETITION No.1382 OF 2007 (Per Sri Justice J.Chelameswar) 1ST MARCH, 2007