Check delay in filing appeals court cases:Centre to ministries

NEW DELHI: All ministries were today asked to check delay by them in filing appeal in legal cases involving service matters.

The move comes after instances were noticed where the government of India has lost cases mainly on account of delay in filing appeals or when limitation period is over. There are also instances where the apex court has dismissed an Special Leave Petition on account of delay.

"It has repeatedly been pointed out that it is primarily the responsibility of the administrative ministry or department to ensure that timely action is taken at each stage of a court case. In no case should the proceeding of case take so much time that it results in contempt proceedings.

"The appropriate action should be taken by the ministry or department within the stipulated time, and if there is a delay, the reasons for the same should be determined and the file submitted to the competent authority," an order issued by Department of Personnel and Training said.

All the ministries are requested that a careful watch may be kept on ongoing litigation so that in no circumstance, a case is lost because of delay, it said.