IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NO.455  OF 2009 (arising out of SLP(C)No.28404 of 2008)

STATE OF BIHAR & ORS. ....APPELLANTS

VERSUS

HORIL SAHNI ....RESPONDENT

O R D E R  

Leave granted.

This appeal by way of special leave petition has been preferred against an

order  dated  20th August,  2008  of  the  Division  Bench  of  the  High  Court  of

Judicature at Patna passed in Letters Patent Appeal No.637 of 2008, by which the

High Court had dismissed Letters Patent Appeal(LPA) of the Appellants merely

on the ground of delay of 285 days in filing the L.P.A.

Having  heard  learned  counsel  for  the  parties  and  going  through  the

application for condonation of delay in filing the L.P.A., we are satisfied with the

explanation offered for the same.  We accordingly set aside the impugned order of

the High Court, condone the delay in filing the L.P.A.  and restore the Letters

Patent  Appeal  to  its  original number with the  request  to  the High  Court to

dispose  of  the  aforesaid  L.P.A.  by  the  end  of  April,  2009  without  granting

unnecessary adjournment to either of the parties.   

This Appeal is accordingly disposed of with no order as to costs.

........................J. (TARUN CHATTERJEE)         

........................J. (H.L. DATTU)               

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 23, 2009