145;HC was tardy in handling case146;

Even as the Supreme Court upheld the Allahabad High Court8217;s decision on the 13 breakaway BSP MLAs, the apex court has expressed its 8220;unhappiness8221; with the manner in which the petition was dealt with by the HC.

8220;We must express our unhappiness at the tardy manner in which a matter of some consequence and constitutional propriety was dealt with by the High Court,8221; concluded the five-judges. As the Bench pointed to each order passed by the High Court since the petition was filed, it conveyed: 8220;More promptitude was expected of that court and it should have ensured that the unfortunate happenings from the point of view of just and due administration of justice were avoided.8221; The petition, which was filed on September 29, 2003 before the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court was adjourned without any strong or valid reasons, the Bench highlighted while going through daily order sheets of the HC.