Mr. Justice K.K. Srivastava, President—The appellant seeks condonation of delay in filing the appeal against the order passed by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-II, U.T., Chandigarh (for short hereinafter referred to as the District Forum) on 26.6.2002. The certified copy of the order was prepared on 12.6.2002 and sent to the parties including the appellant by post free of charge. It has been alleged that the copy was received by the Chandigarh Office of the appellant on 15.7.2002 and the appeal was to be filed by 14.8.2002. It has, however, been filed on 3.9.2002.

2. There is delay of 20 days in filing the appeal. According to the case of the appellant, the delay occurred due to the fact that the dealing office at Mumbai received the communication from the Chandigarh Office for permission to file the appeal on or about 21.7.2002 when the entire office was under process of shifting including restructuring and placement of staff from Mumbai Main Branch to Branch Office at Belapur, New Mumbai. The opinion of the Solicitors were sought and the papers were sent to the Delhi Office which is the concerned office with advice to take steps to file the appeal against the