(1.) The applicants, nine in number, seek condonation of the delay of 528 days in filing an appeal against the judgment and order dated 20.09.2018 passed by a learned Judge of this Court in W.P(C) No.519 of 2018.
(2.) Notice having been ordered; affidavits-in-opposition were filed by Mr. A.Romenkumar, learned counsel for respondents 1 to 5, viz., the petitioners in W.P(C) No.519 of 2018, and Mr. N.Zequeson, learned counsel, appearing for the officials of the Manipur Technical University, respondents 7 and 8.
(3.) At the outset, we may note that the applicants were not parties to the writ petition filed by respondents 1 to 5 herein. Their challenge was to the Notification dated 23.05.2018 issued by the Manipur Technical University (hereinafter, 'the University'), proposing to fill up various teaching and nonteaching posts in its service. They also prayed for a direction to the University to provide them regular appointment from the date of their initial appointment on contract basis as Assistant Professors, along with consequential benefits.