S. 253 : Appellate Tribunal-Appeals-Duties-Limitation-Delay of 425 days-Tribunal rejected the appeal for condonation of delay-High Court affirmed the order of Tribunal-On SLP Honourable Supreme Court condoned the delay-It is not the length of delay that would be required to be considered while examining the plea for condonation of delay, it is the cause for delay-Directed the Tribunal to decide on merits .[ S. 254(1), Central Administrative Tribunal, Act, 1985 S. 21]
Honourable Supreme Court held that no litigant stands to benefit in approaching the courts belatedly. It is not the length of delay that would be required to be considered while examining the plea for condonation of delay, it is the cause for delay which has been propounded will have to be examined. If the cause for delay would fall within the four corners of “sufficient cause”, irrespective of the length of delay same deserves to be condoned. However, if the cause shown is insufficient, irrespective of the period of delay, same would not be condoned. (CA No. 8435-8436 of 2024 (@ S.L.P. (Civil) Nos. 2733 -2734 of 2024 dt. 5-8-2024)
Mool Chandra v. UOI (SC) www.itatonline.org
(Coram : Hon’ble Shri Justice Aravind Kumar)