Most Protracted Litigation

The tale of the most protracted litigation is a saga of perseverance, bureaucracy, and historical disputes. The controversy over the claim of the Prior and Convent (now the Dean and Chapter) of Durham Cathedral to administer the spiritualities of the diocese during a vacancy in the See began in 1283. The dispute, which initially involved the Archbishop of York, resurfaced fiercely in 1672 and 1890, and was still unresolved in 1975—after an astonishing 692 years. Despite attempts to settle the issue, neither side acknowledges the legitimacy of the writs of appointment issued by the other, even though identical individuals are named in both cases.
In a separate but equally lengthy case, Gaddam Hanumantha Reddy, a civil servant, battled the Hyderabad state and Indian governments for 44 years, 9 months, and 8 days from April 1945 until January 1990. The litigation outlasted his entire tenure in the Indian Administrative Service. He fought for recognition of his seniority based on his entrance exam results, eventually winning the battle and securing a promotion.