1. I regret that I have to disagree with the conclusion reached by my learned brother Gopalan Nambiyar J.

2. The main contention that is raised by the respondent is that as the appellate authority is not a court (civil or criminal) the provision contained in S.5 of the Limitation Act is not applicable for condonation of the delay in filing the appeal. An answer to this contention must depend on a decision regarding the extent of the applicability of the principles' contained in the Limitation Act to the proceedings under the Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act.

3. The Limitation Act contains the general law of limitation of actions. The various Articles in the First Schedule of the Act prescribe the period of limitation for suits, appeals and applications. The Act also lays down in S.4 to 24 the general principles for determination of the period of limitation for suits, appeals and applications. They relate to the powers of the court to extend, exclude and compute the period of limitation. If on determining the period of limitation it is found that the suit, appeal or application is filed, preferred or made after the period of the limitation prescribed, the court shoul