The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Thursday dismissed 11 special appeals filed by the Uttar Pradesh government, taking a strict view of the delays in their filing. The court held that no sufficient cause had been shown to justify the lapse.
Court’s Observation on Government Delays
Rejecting the special appeals, the division bench observed that the government, equipped with an organized administrative machinery, cannot take shelter behind routine procedural delays or “red tape.” “Mere movement of files cannot constitute sufficient cause,” the court remarked.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Jaspreet Singh, passed the order on a batch of special appeals filed by the state government.
Relief for Junior Engineers
With the dismissal of the special appeals, a large number of junior engineers in the Public Works Department (PWD) have secured major relief. They will now be entitled to consequential service benefits, including coverage under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
The state had challenged a single-judge order of September 9, 2025, which directed that junior engineers—initially engaged as daily wagers or work-charged employees between 1984 and 1989—be regularized from 2001 instead of 2006. The revised date of regularization paved the way for additional service benefits and OPS eligibility, entailing a significant financial implication for the state exchequer.
Delays in Filing Appeals
During the hearing, the bench noted that all 11 special appeals had been filed beyond the prescribed limitation period, with delays ranging from 93 to 195 days. Seeking condonation of delay, the state cited reasons such as file movement, procedural formalities, holidays, and the legislative session.
The bench further said that while considering applications for condonation of delay, courts are not required to examine the merits of the case, but only whether a satisfactory explanation for the delay has been made out.
