This petition is to condone the delay of 686 days in filing the appeal.

2. This petition has arisen in this way:

There was land acquisition proceeding under which certain lands were acquired for the purpose of providing house sites to Adi Dravidars. The Land Acquisition Officer fixed the land value at Rs.100 per cent. The matter was referred under Sec.18 of the Land Acquisition Act to the court, i.e., to the learned Sub Judge, Ranipet, who took the reference on file in L.A.O.P.No.3 of 1994. The learned Sub Judge enhanced the compensation at Rs.375 per cent. Aggrieved by the orders passed by the learned Sub Judge, the appellant, the Special Tahsildar (Land Acquisition), Adi Dravidars Welfare, Vellore, has come forward with an appeal to this Court. The judgment was pronounced 8. 1996. The certified copies were obtained on 9. 1996, but the appeal could not be filed in time. There had been a delay of 686 days in filing the appeal. The reason given by the appellant in his affidavit is that during November to February, 1998, the entire staff was fully engaged in general election and the post of Special Tahsildar, Adi Dravidar Welfare, was vacant for three months from 1. 1998, t