Govt of NCT of Delhi and Ors. v. Ravi Pratap
Writ Petition (Civil) – Delay and Laches – Unexplained delay of more than a year in filing
Case brief
What is this about?
Delhi High Court, W.P.(C) 4105/2025, decided 02.04.2025 by Navin Chawla, J. (author) and Renu Bhatnagar, J. Govt of NCT of Delhi and Ors. v. Ravi Pratap. Challenge to CAT Principal Bench order dated 18.01.2024 in O.A. 728/2023 directing appointment of respondent as Patwari with consequential benefits (seniority, pay fixation, notional till assumption of charge, actual thereafter); appointment direction already complied with. Petition dismissed solely on ground of unexplained delay of over one year in filing; extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 226 refused; question of law left open. Related applications: CM APPL. 19069/2025 (exemption, allowed), CM APPLs. 19068/2025 and 19070/2025. Keywords: delay, laches, Article 226, Patwari, consequential benefits, seniority, pay fixation, Central Administrative Tribunal, question of law left open.
What did the court decide?
The present writ petition was filed after a delay of more than a year, and no explanation whatsoever was given by the petitioners for this delay.