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2013 Supreme(Mad) 12

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
G. RAJASURIA, J.

Kunjamma & Another
Versus
Larence John & Others
C.R.P.(NPD)(MD) No. 2629 of 2012 & M.P.(MD) No. 1 of 2012
Decided On : 02-01-2013

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioners:K.N. Thampi, Advocate.
For the Respondents: No Appearance.

The court emphasized the need for leniency and consideration of genuine reasons for delay in restoring the application, setting aside the Lower Court's order and mandating the hearing and disposal of the original application on its merits.

Headnote:

Delay Condonation - Restoration of Application - The court set aside the order of the Lower Court and restored the earlier application for condonation of delay, emphasizing the genuine reasons found in the affidavit of the petitioners and the need for leniency due to the circumstances of the case.

Fact of the Case:

The revision petitioners sought condonation of a 74-day delay in filing an Appeal Memorandum, which was dismissed for default. Subsequent applications for restoration were also dismissed by the Lower Court.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the reasons presented in the affidavit for the delay were genuine, emphasizing the old age of one petitioner and the accident suffered by the other petitioner, warranting leniency from the court.

Issues: Delay condonation, restoration of application, genuine reasons for delay, discretion of the court

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the need for leniency and consideration of genuine reasons for delay in restoring the application, setting aside the Lower Court's order and mandating the hearing and disposal of the original application on its merits.

Final Decision: The order of the Lower Court in I.A.No.143 of 2009 was set aside, and the earlier application for condonation of delay was restored. The Lower Court was mandated to take up the original application for hearing and disposal on its merits. The Civil Revision Petition was disposed of with the above observation, and the connected miscellaneous petition was closed. No costs were awarded.

JUDGMENT

1. The learned counsel for the revision petitioners would echo the heart-burns of his clients to the effect that they presented the Appeal Memorandum in A.S.S.R.No.1351 of 2007 and I.A.No.177 of 2007 to get the delay of 74 days condoned in filing the Appeal Memorandum. However, that was dismissed for default, whereupon, I.A.No.143 of 2009 was filed for getting the I.A., restored which was dismissed by the Lower Court unjustifiably. The earlier delay of 74 days was not huge. According to the learned counsel for the revision petitioners, the averments in the affidavit as found set out in the application for getting the I.A.No.177 of 2007 restored was on the ground that the second petitioner, viz. Titus John met with an accident and that the first petitioner-Kunjamma was an old lady, being the mother of P2. I.A.No.143 of 2009 was filed without any delay.

2. Now, even after printing the names of the contesting respondents, there is no response. What I could glean and discern, perceive and infer is that the first Appellate Court should have been lenient in restoring the I.A.No.177 of 2007, instead of dismissing the I.A.No.143 of 2009. The old lady-P1 cannot be expected to prosecute the case effectively when she has got a son-P2. However, in this case, unfortunately the son met with an accident and that he was not in a position to pursue the matter further. Whereas, the Lower Court in its cryptic order, without considering the genuine reasons found set out in the affidavit of the petitioners, simply dismissed it warranting interference in revision. On balance, the order of the Lower Court in I.A.No.143 of 2009 is set aside and the earlier I.A. shall stand restored. Whereupon, the Lower Court is mandated to take up the I.A.No.177 of 2007 for hearing and dispose it of on merits.

3. The Civil Revision Petition is disposed of with the above observation. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed. No costs.


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