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2022 Supreme(Guj) 29

IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
A.P. THAKER, J.
Nandlal Namdev Otwani - Appellant
Versus
Vijay Jayprakash Ahuja - Respondent
R/Civil Application No. 941 of 2020 in F/Appeal From Order No. 3989 Of 2020
Decided on : 15-02-2022

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Applicant : Jaimin A. Gandhi
For the Respondent: Mr Ketan A. Dave Mr Sanjay G. Udhwani

Headnote:

Limitation Act, 1963 - Section 5 - Condonation of delay - Civil Application for condonation of delay of 399 days caused in preferring Appeal from Order which he propose to file against order - Applicant has submitted that he was suffering from financial crisis and he had no funds to challenge impugned order nor did he has funds to develop subject land -He has submitted that now he has gained some financial strength through help of friends and relatives - He is contemplating development of subject land either himself or through some developer - He has submitted that due to such financial crises, delay has occurred - Whether there was sufficient cause or not are to be taken into consideration - Whether any legal right is available to applicant herein or not - whether delay occurred in preferring said Appeal from Order is well explained or not – Held, If there is a malafide attributed and established against party concerned, then definitely even shortest delay cannot be condoned - It cannot be presumed that a person against whom an interim injunction is operating, would adopt dilatory tactics except in case of compelled circumstances or circumstances out of his control, he may not be in a position to initiate or execute or take appropriate immediate steps against injunction operating against him - Therefore, it cannot be presumed that applicant was not proceeding with matter bonafidely or there was dilatory tactics on his part in initiating proceedings of Appeal from Order against impugned order of injunction which is operating against him - Therefore, in present case, applicant has made out sufficient cause for condonation of delay of 399 days occurred in preferring Appeal from Order - If application is condoned, no prejudice is likely to be caused to other side and other side would also get appropriate opportunity if Appeal from Order is preferred. Interim injunction is operating in their favour - Merely by permitting applicant to prefer Appeal from Order would not automatically affect their possession or having interim injunction in their favour - Application is allowed.

JUDGMENT :

1. The original defendant No.4 has preferred this Civil Application for condonation of delay of 399 days caused in preferring Appeal from Order which he propose to file against the order dated 20.11.2018 passed below Exh-6/7 in Civil Suit No. 482 of 2016, whereby he has been restrained from transferring, alienating or creating interest of any third party in respect of suit property till final disposal of the suit.

2. The applicant has submitted that he was suffering from financial crisis and he had no funds to challenge the impugned order nor did he has funds to develop the subject land. He has submitted that now he has gained some financial strength through help of friends and relatives and. Therefore. he is contemplating development of the subject land either himself or through some developer. He has submitted that due to such financial crises, delay has occurred.

2.1 It is also contended that refusing to condone the delay will result in a meritorious matter being thrown out at the very threshold and cause of justice being defeated. It is also contended that if the delay is condoned, the respondent will not be affected and justice will be done to both the parties on merits. It is also contended that there has never been any intention on his part to flout any legal provisions or legal formalities and despite the best efforts on his part, delay has been caused only because of the circumstances beyond control. While reciting the decision of the Apex Court in N. Balakrishnan v. M. Krishnamurthy, reported in AIR 1998 SC 3222 and State of Haryana v. Chandramani and Ors, reported in 1996 3 SCC 132. It is prayed by the applicant to condone the delay of 399 days occurred in preferring the Appeal from Order.

3. The respondent No.1 has resisted the application and has submitted that delay is of about more than 1 year and the reason advanced for seeking condonation of inordinate delay of having financial crisis is not acceptable. It is also contended that there is not a whisper in the entire application as to how and when the applicant came out of such alleged financial crisis, if at all there were financial crisis as alleged. It is also submitted that the application is too vague and evasive as no particulars are furnished and/ or any documentary evidences produced in support of the alleged cause advanced for seeking condonation of delay. It is also averred that total inaction, negligence and want of bona-fides on the part of the applicant in the matter. It is also submitted that no sufficient cause has been shown by the applicant for condonation of delay and there is more than one year delay and, therefore, it is required to be rejected.

3.1 By way of narrating the facts of the suit, it is contended by him that the trial Court has granted injunction against the appellant after considering the admitted position and considering the documentary evidence as well as pleadings involved in the matter. It is also contended that the suit property is an ancestral property purchased by deponent's grandfather late Shri Gokuldas Ahuja who has expired on 4.8.2005 intestate after death of his grandfather, respondent No.2 executed registered sale deed dated 15.3.2011 in favour of the present applicant as he was sole owner of the property. According to the deponent, he has undivided share by virtue of birth in the family of the Suit property as co-parcenor. He has also contended that there is a clear cut findings by the trial Court that it is nobody's case that the execution of the sale deed by his father, was as a karta of HUF for any legal necessity. He has also contended that at the time of death of his grandfather, he was 9 year old and at the time of execution of sale-deed he was minor and, therefore, he has preferred the suit within 3 years from the date of attaining majority and, therefore, Civil Suit was preferred within a period of limitation. He has also submitted that the applicant- appellant hererin has been permitted to sale/transfe

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