ORDER

1. Against the order of the District Forum, respondent filed an appeal before the State Commission. An application for condonation of delay of 181 days was also filed. The State Commission dismissed the application for condonation of delay and the appeal as barred by time by observing:

"It has been expressly provided in Section 15 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 that any person aggrieved by the order of the District Forum, may prefer an appeal against such order to the State Commission within a period of 30 days from the date of the order, in such form and manner as may be prescribed. The proviso contained therein permits the State Commission to entertain an appeal after the expiry of period of the said period of thirty days if it is satisfied that there was sufficient cause for not filing it within the stipulated period. The expression 'sufficient cause' has not been defined in the Act, rightly so, as it would vary from facts and circumstances of each case. At the same time while examining the question of condonation of delay, it has to be kept in mind that it is the duty of the condoning authority to record satisfaction of the explanation submitted as to whether it is re