JUDGMENT Surya Kant, C.J. (Oral) - The petitioner assails the order dated 27.07.2013, vide which the Department of Labour and Employment, namely, appropriate Government declined to refer the industrial dispute sought to be raised by him on the ground of 9 years delay. 2. Having heard learned Counsel for the petitioner, we are not inclined to entertain the writ petition, firstly on account of inordinate delay and laches in approaching this Court inasmuch as the reference was declined way back on 27.07.2013, whereas the writ petition has now been filed at the fag end of the year 2018. Assuming that the petitioner belongs to poor strata of society, nothing precluded him to avail free legal aid and seek redressal of his grievance. Secondly, the industrial dispute itself was raised after a long period of 9 years. The information placed on record (letter dated 21.11.2009, Annexure P-1) reveals that the petitioner worked intermittently from the year 1994 till 2002 and except in the year 1997, where he worked for 183 days, his total working days in a year are less than 116. 3. Taking into consideration the totality of the circumstances, it appears that the petitioner abandoned the employment and in any case has not been vigilant about his legal rights. In such circumstances, we see no reason to interfere with the impugned order. The Writ Petition is accordingly dismissed.