JUDGMENT

[VIA VIDEO CONFERENCING]

1. This petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of India has been filed by the plaintiff before the learned Commercial Court, being aggrieved with its order dated 26th November, 2019, whereby it had rejected the objections raised by the petitioner/plaintiff against the belated filing of the written statement by the respondents/defendants, allowing an application filed for condonation of delay much after the period of limitation.

2. The petitioner/plaintiff had filed the suit bearing number CS (COMM) 81/2018, for the recovery of a sum of Rs.7,68,000/-. Summons were duly served on the respondent on 23rd January, 2019.

3. Mr. Anirudh Wadhwa, learned counsel for the petitioner/plaintiff submitted that the written statement had to be filed by 22nd February, 2019. However, the written statement was filed on 26th February 2019, with a delay of four days and that too, without the affidavit of admission and denial of documents, as mandated by the Delhi High Court (Original Side) Rules 2018. Neither was the written statement accompanied with any application seeking condonation of delay.

4. Learned counsel further submitted that, on 20th May 2019