V.K. Jain, Presiding Member—This appeal is directed against the order of the State Commission dated 4.9.2015 whereby the complaint filed by the respondent, which is a cooperative bank in Maharashtra, against the appellant was allowed and the appellant was directed to pay a sum of Rs.5,19,000/- to the complainant along with interest and cost quantified at Rs.25,000/-. Since there is a delay of 1 year and 8 months in filing the appeal, the IA No.9561 of 2017 seeking condonation of the said delay has been filed. The application seeking condonation of delay, to the extent it is relevant, reads as under:-

“4. That it is herein respectfully stated that the instant matter was filed in 2002. The advocate who handled the matter initially did not pursue the matter. The file with the appellant bank was misplaced and the incumbent manager had no knowledge of the said matter. It was called out for hearing in 2015. A new advocate was engaged. The matter was decreed on 4.9.2015. The incumbent branch manager was facing several charges hence he did not report the matter to higher authorities. The incumbent manager now stands suspended from service.

5. That on 28th April 2016 the new