HC dismisses appeal filed after 581 days delay:Gwalior Hight Court says, ‘Government must maintain same vigilance as ordinary citizen’

The Gwalior bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has dismissed a writ appeal filed by the state government with a delay of 581 days, strongly criticizing the tendency of departments to seek relief by citing excuses such as misplaced files and procedural delays. The division bench remarked that government agencies must act with the same vigilance and responsibility expected from ordinary citizens. The case involved Hakim Singh Gurjar, a timekeeper in the Water Resources Department, who had petitioned the High Court for revision of his pay scale. On September 22, 2023, the single bench ruled in his favor. However, the state government filed its appeal only on July 24, 2025, after a delay of 581 days. The department claimed the delay was due to seeking approval from the Law Department and completing official procedures. ‘No exemption from limitation’ The bench noted that the government had failed to offer any satisfactory explanation for the delay, stressing that limitation rules apply equally to all parties. It further observed that procedural hurdles cannot justify such negligence. Appeal filed without approval The court also found that the appeal had been filed without the mandatory approval of the Law Department and the Engineer-in-Chief. Terming this a serious irregularity, the bench held that no officer is authorized to presume approval and move ahead with filing. The ruling underlined the need for greater accountability and discipline in government functioning. ​