Contempt for delayed compliance was dropped, with the Court stressing timely requests for extension and warning against belated explanations.

Belated compliance with a court's time-bound direction may expose an authority to contempt, and if compliance within the stipulated period is not possible, extension of time should be sought promptly. Here, the authority's delayed explanation was considered, but the Court warned that such explanations would not be accepted in future. In the peculiar facts, the Court declined to continue with contempt action, dropped the proceedings, and disposed of the contempt petition without costs.

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Issues: Whether the contempt proceedings should be dropped in view of the explanation tendered for the delay in complying with the Court's earlier order.

Analysis: The authority failed to comply with the Court's time-bound direction and ought to have sought extension of time if compliance within the stipulated period was not possible. The explanation tendered in the affidavit was noted, and the Court cautioned that such belated explanations would not be accepted hereafter. In the peculiar facts, the Court declined to proceed further with contempt action and did not award costs.

Conclusion: The contempt proceedings were dropped and the contempt petition was disposed of without costs.

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