! " # $ " # %& & &' !!"#!!$ % & ' & (& ( # !) *) !*!! + ,! - ! ( . *#!*! / * !*! + , 0 - ( 0 0 ! 1 ( . *#!*! & ( 1 0 234 &- 0 +( $5 !) $6 )* ( - 0 & - ( + ,! MEENU 2026.08.12 17:55 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 7 80 & ( 0 234 &- ( & &- ( / 8 ) 9 & ( & - & - ' ( ( +( 0 ( & 0 : ( 234 &- % & $7 ( 234 &- - + ( ( " % & 234 &- 0 ( & &- 0 ' #& &- 0 0 0 - ! "## $%&$%'( - & ( & ( ( . *#!*! $ % ( ( 0 - & - 4 4 4 - ) */ !*!) & ( MEENU 2026.08.12 17:55 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document ( (( &( - 4 4 4 5 8 ) 6 ( - - 0- 0 ( . *#!*! 0 0 - !*! % ( 0 (& - & ' & - !*!! 0 - - !*!" + - ( - % 0 0 & - (- - & - 0 - & ; (- 0 ( 4( < * " + ,- .$'&/0 ! 1//= 0 0 & - “24. Now, it is well settled that the power of the High Court to issue an appropriate writ under Article 226 of the Constitution is discretionary and the High Court in the exercise of its discretion does not ordinarily assist the tardy and the indolent or the acquiescent and the lethargic. If there is inordinate delay on the part of the petitioner in filing a writ petition and such delay is not satisfactorily explained, the High Court may decline to intervene and grant relief in the exercise of its writ jurisdiction. The evolution of this rule of laches or delay is premised upon a number of factors. The High Court does not ordinarily permit a belated resort to the extraordinary remedy under the writ jurisdiction because it is likely to cause confusion and public inconvenience and bring in its train new injustices. The rights of third parties may intervene and if the writ jurisdiction is exercised on a writ petition filed after unreasonable delay, it may have the effect of inflicting not only hardship and inconvenience but also injustice on third parties. When the writ jurisdiction of the High Court is invoked, unexplained delay coupled with the creation of third party rights in the meanwhile is an MEENU 2026.08.12 17:55 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document important factor which always weighs with the High Court in deciding whether or not to exercise such jurisdiction.” * 4 ( - + <2 , 3 2 4 . /0 ! %( “6. Delay or laches is one of the factors which is to be borne in mind by the High Court when they exercise their discretionary powers under Article 226 of the Constitution. In an appropriate case the High Court may refuse to invoke its extraordinary powers if there is such negligence or omission on the part of the applicant to assert his right as taken in conjunction with the lapse of time and other circumstances, causes prejudice to the opposite party. Even where fundamental right is involved the matter is still within the discretion of the Court as pointed out in Durga Prashad v. Chief Controller of Imports and Exports. Of course, the discretion has to be exercised judicially and reasonably.” > & - & & - < 5 67 6 ) ,, . '0 $ $/&( 0 4( "26. .... One of the grounds for refusing relief is that the person approaching the High Court is guilty of unexplained delay and the laches. Inordinate delay in moving the court for a writ is an adequate ground for refusing a writ. The principle is that the courts exercising public law jurisdiction do not encourage agitation of stale claims and exhuming matters where the rights of third parties may have accrued in the interregnum." ! >( ( 0 ( & 0 ( &- ( 0 ( 7 ( ( & +( ( & ( 0 - (( ? - ( ' - : : ,- & MEENU 2026.08.12 17:55 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document - - : 1 ( ( - 0 - (( ( ( & % +( 0 ( - ( & ( ( (( & - ( ( ' - 0 0 & & ( &- ( 4( @ ( - - / & ( & ( 0 - ( ( ' & - - 1 - 4( * 27 8 1 3 $$1 0 & 0 ( 19. … Once an advertisement is issued inviting applications for public employment, it is the responsibility, nay duty, of an aspirant to read and note the terms and understand what its requirements are. If any aspirant finds any of the terms ambiguous and there is scope for an inquiry inbuilt in the advertisement or is provided by any rule/regulation, an effort ought to be first made to obtain clarity for understanding the requirements accurately. If no such scope is available, nothing prevents the aspirant from seeking clarity by making a representation. Should such clarity be not provided, the aspirant may participate in the process without prejudice to his rights and may question the term even after he is not selected. However, if the aspirant does not make any such effort and takes a calculated chance of selection MEENU 2026.08.12 17:55 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document based on his own understanding of the disputed term in the advertisement and later, he emerges unsuccessful, ordinarily, it would not be open to him to challenge the selection on the ground that the disputed term is capable of being understood differently….” ) & ' 0 - 0 ( ( ( - & &( ! "## $%&$%'( - 0 &( + 0 ( & 0 & & - & 0 ( / - - (& ( 0 - 0 : & " % 0 ( 0 0 ( 0 (- & - & 0 & 0 ( $ 0 ( & - 5 & - " &# Meenu Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes/No Whether reportable : Yes/No MEENU 2026.08.12 17:55 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document