State of Chhattisgarh Vs Smt. Muniya Bai

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Digitally signed by V V PADMAVATHI PADMAVATHI Date: 2026.02.05 19:15:21 +0530

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2026:CGHC:6147-DB

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NAFR

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HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR

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WA No. 107 of 2026

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1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Its Secretary, Government Of Chhattisgarh, Department Of Panchayat And Rural Development, Mantralaya, Mahanadi Bhawan, Nava Raipur, Atal Nagar, District Raipur Chhattisgarh (Respondent No. 3)

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2 - The Collector Ambikapur, District Surguja Chhattisgarh (Respondent No. 4)

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3 - Executive Engineer Cum Member Secretary Project Implementation Unit No. 2, Chhattisgarh Rural Road Development Agency, Ambikapur, District Surguja Chhattisgarh (Respondent No. 5)

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... Petitioner(s)

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versus

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1 - Smt. Muniya Bai W/o Ladhu Ram Aged About 53 Years R/o Village Navadiha, Tehsil Ludra, District Surguja Chhattisgarh

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2 - Sunil Kumar Bhagat S/o Ladhu Ram Aged About 36 Years R/o Village Navadiha, Tehsil Ludra, District Surguja Chhattisgarh (Petitioner No. 2)

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3 - Union Of India Through The Secretary, Ministry Of Rural Development, Government Of India, New Delhi (Respondent No. 1)

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4 - National Rural Road Development Agency, Ministry Of Rural Development, Government Of India Through Director General Office At 5th Floor, N.B.C.C. Tower, Bhikaji Cama Palace, New Delhi (Respondent No. 2)

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...Respondent(s)

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(Cause-title taken from Case Information System)

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For Appellants/State : Shri Prasun Bhaduri, Dy AG

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For Private Respondents : Shri Nishikant Sinha, Advocate For Union of India : Shri Tushar Dhar Diwan, Advocate

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Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Hon'ble Shri Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal Order on Board

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Per Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice

04.02.2026

Wa 107 of 2026

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Heard Shri Prasun Bhaduri, learned Deputy Advocate General appearing for the appellants on IA-2 of 2026, which is an application for condonation of delay of 567 days in preferring the instant appeal. Also heard Shri Nishikant Sinha, learned counsel for the private respondents, and Shri Tushar Dhar Diwan, learned counsel for the Union of India.

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The appellants have filed this writ appeal against an order dated 10.05.2024 (Annexure A1), passed by the Hon’ble Single Judge, in WPSWPC-654 of 2022 ( Smt Muniya Bai and another Vs Union of India and others ), by which the learned Single Judge has allowed the writ petition filed by the writ petitioners.

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Learned Deputy Advocate General appearing for the appellants/ State submits that the present writ appeal has been preferred by the appellants/State against the order dated 10.05.2024 passed in WPC-654 of 2022, passed by the Hon’ble Single Bench of this Court. He would further submit that the State is a multi-functioning body and it has to follow the rules of obtaining sanction etc. for filing an appeal, which took considerable time due to administrative procedures and multiple levels of approval. He also submits that the appellants have a strong case on merits, therefore, the delay if not condoned, would result in grave miscarriage of justice.

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It has been further contended that the State, after obtaining necessary documents and information with respect to the case, some delay was occurred due to fulfillment of various departmental formalities

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Wa 107 of 2026

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and working of the Government machinery, because the State Government is a multi functioning body, hence, at times the fulfillment of departmental formalities takes unexpected long time. Therefore, in some cases the State is prevented from filing the case within the prescribed period of limitation, which is bona fide and not deliberate. The instant appeal is, therefore, being filed after delay of 567 days from the prescribed period of limitation. Reliance has been placed upon the judgment rendered by Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of “ State of Haryana v. Chandra Mani and others” (1996) 3 SCC 132, to buttress his submissions. As such, the learned State counsel prays that the delay of 567 days in preferring the petition may be condoned.

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Learned counsel for the respondent submits that the writ appeal is barred by delay and laches and further there is no cogent reason or explanation has been given in the delay and laches application filed for condonation of delay. Hence, the appeal is not liable to be entertained.

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On a pointed query being made to the learned for the appellants as to why they have approached this Court against the impugned order dated 10.05.2024, after an inordinate delay of 567 days, learned counsel for the appellants has not offered any plausible explanation or any cogent reason for delay in filing the writ appeal.

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The question for determination before this Court is, whether the provisions of Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1908 (i.e. Act 9 of 1908 i.e. the old Limitation Act) would apply to an application for condonation of

Wa 107 of 2026

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delay.

The Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of “ Union of India and others v. Tarsem Singh ” (2008) 8 SCC 652 summarized the settled principles in the following manner:-

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“7. To summarise, normally, a belated service related claim will be rejected on the ground of delay and laches (where remedy is sought by filing a writ petition) or limitation (where remedy is sought by an application to the Administrative Tribunal). One of the exceptions to the said rule is cases relating to a continuing wrong. Where a service related claim is based on a continuing wrong, relief can be granted even if there is a long delay in seeking remedy, with reference to the date on which the continuing wrong commenced, if such continuing wrong creates a continuing source of injury. But there is an exception to the exception. If the grievance is in respect of any order or administrative decision which related to or affected several others also, and if the reopening of the issue would affect the settled rights of third parties, then the claim will not be entertained. For example, if the issue relates to payment or re fixation of pay or pension, relief may be granted in spite of delay as it does not affect the rights of third parties. But if the claim involved issues relating to seniority or promotion,etc.., affecting others, delay would render the claim stale and doctrine of laches/limitation will be applied. Insofar as the consequential relief of recovery of arrears for a past period is concerned, the principles relating to recurring/successive wrongs will apply. As a consequence, the High Courts will restrict the consequential relief relating to arrears

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Wa 107 of 2026

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normally to a period of three years prior to the date of filing of the writ petition.”

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The Supreme Court in the matter of “ C. Jacob v. Director of Geology and Mining and others ” (2008) 10 SCC 115, having found that the employee suddenly brought up a challenge to the order of termination of his services after 20 years and claimed all consequential benefits, held that the relief sought for was inadmissible. The legal position in this regard was laid out in the following terms:-

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“10. Every representation of the Government for relief, may not be applied on merits. Representations relating to matters which have become stale or barred by limitation, can be rejected on that ground alone, without examining the merits of the claim. In regard to representations unrelated to the Department, the reply may be only to inform that the matter did not concern the Department or to inform the appropriate Department. Representations with incomplete particulars may be replied by seeking relevant particulars. The replies to such representations, cannot furnish a fresh cause of action or revive a stale or dead claim.

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When a decision is issued by a court/tribunal to consider or deal with the representation, usually the directee (person directed) examines the matter on merits,being under the impression that failure to do so may amount to disobedience. When an order is passed considering and rejecting the claim or representation, in compliance with direction of the court or tribunal, such an order does not revive the stale claim, nor

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Wa 107 of 2026

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amount to some kind of “acknowledgement of a jural relationship” to give rise to a fresh cause of action.

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When a government abandons service to take alternative employment or to attend to personal affairs, and does not bother to send any letter seeking leave or letter of resignation or letter of voluntary retirement, and the records do not show that he is treated as being in service, he cannot after two decades, represent that he should be taken back to duty. Nor can such employee be treated as having continued in service, thereby deeming the entire period as qualifying service for the purpose of pension. That will be a travesty of justice.

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Where an employee unauthorisedly absents himself and suddenly appears after 20 years and demands that he should be taken back and approaches the court, the department naturally will not or may not have any record relating to the employee at that distance of time. In such cases, when the employer fails to produce the records of the enquiry and the order of dismissal/removal, court cannot draw an adverse inference against the employer for not producing records, nor direct reinstatement with back wages for 20 years, ignoring the cessation of service or the lucrative alternative employment of the employee. Misplaced sympathy in such matters will encourage discipline, lead to unjust enrichment of the employee at fault and result in drain of public exchequer. Many a time there is also no application of mind as to the extent of financial burden, as a result of a routine order for back wages.”

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Wa 107 of 2026

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In the light of the principles of law laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the aforementioned judgments (supra), and upon due consideration of the grounds urged in IA-2 of 2026, we find that the delay of 567 days in preferring the writ appeal has not been satisfactorily explained with any cogent or plausible reason. The appellants have failed to demonstrate sufficient cause so as to justify condonation of such delay. Therefore, no ground is made out to exercise our discretion in favour of the appellants for condoning the delay.

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Consequently, IA-2 of 2026 seeking condonation of delay is hereby rejected . As a natural corollary thereto, the writ appeal also stands dismissed .

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Sd/Sd/- (Ravindra Kumar Agrawal) (Ramesh Sinha) Judge Chief Justice

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padma

State of Chhattisgarh v. Smt. Muniya Bai

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State of Chhattisgarh v. Smt. Muniya Bai

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