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2016 Supreme(Mad) 3201
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
S.M. SUBRAMANIAM, J.
Smt. Nagalakshmi (Died) and Ors. – Petitioners
Versus
Smt. Zackahriah (Deceased) and Ors. – Respondents
CRP(PD).NO.2722 OF 2013 and M.P.No.1 of 2013
Decided On : 06-10-2016
For the Petitioner: Mrs. P.T. Asha
For the Respondent: Mr. V.G. Suresh Kumar
The court emphasized the lenient view to be taken in condoning the delay in representation, allowing the parties to adjudicate the matter on merits.
Headnote:
Delay - Representation - 334 days - [Limitation Act, Section 5] - The court considered the delay of 334 days in representation of the petition and held that a lenient view shall be taken in order to allow the respective parties to adjudicate the matter on merits.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioners filed a suit for declaration, recovery of possession, and mean profits in respect of the suit schedule properties. The suit was set decreed exparte, and the respondents filed an application to condone the delay of 334 days in filing the petition to set aside the exparte decree.
Finding of the Court:
The court dismissed the Civil Revision Petition and confirmed the order passed by the District Munsif, Uthagamandalam, directing the District Munsif to take up the petition to set aside the exparte decree and dispose of the same within a period of one month.
Issues: Delay in representation, conduct of the defendants, and the sufficiency of cause for condonation of delay.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that a lenient view shall be taken in order to allow the respective parties to adjudicate the matter on merits, considering the delay in representation of the petition.
Final Decision: The Civil Revision Petition is dismissed, and the order passed by the District Munsif, Uthagamandalam is confirmed.
Heard Mrs. P.T. Asha, learned counsel for the petitioners and Mr. V.G. Suresh Kumar, learned counsel appearing for the respondents 1,3 & 4 and with their consent, the Civil Revision Petition is taken up for final disposal. None appears for the respondents 5 to 7.
2. The facts in nutshell as argued by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner is that, the petitioners are the plaintiffs in O.S.No.381 of 1995 and the suit is for declaration, recovery of possession and for mean profits in respect of the suit schedule properties. The suit was set decreed exparte on 11.07.2011 and the respondents/defendants filed an application in I.A.No.708 of 2012 to condone the delay of 334 days in filing the petition to set aside the exparte decree and the petition was filed in time on 10.08.2011. The petition was returned for compliance by the Registry and hence, there was a delay of 334 days in representing the petition filed to set aside the exparte decree. The petition was allowed by the Court below against which the present revision petition is filed.
3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners vehemently contended that the order passed by the Court below cannot be sustained on the ground that the conduct of the defendants in the suit was such that they were going on prolonging the conduct of the suit and therefore, the order is liable to be set aside.
4. It is the further contention of the learned counsel that averments made by the respondents in the affidavit filed in support of the petition are false and contrary to the facts of the case. Therefore the defendants had mis-represented the Court only with an intention to prolong the suit. Therefore, the respondents are not entitled for any lenience by this Court.
5. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, in support of her contentions placed reliance on the judgments reported in 2010(2) MWN(Civil)688 [Vellaithai and others Vs V.Duraisamy] & 1993 (1) SCC 572 [Binod Bihari Singh Vs Union of India] and submitted that the party should not be encouraged by rejecting the bar of limitation pleaded by the opposite party and condoning the delay.
It is relevant to the extract in Vellaithai's case paragraph 4, 6 and 8
4. "In dealing with the question of condoning the delay under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, a party seeking relief, has to satisfy the Court that he had sufficient cause for not making an Application within the prescribed time and this has always been understood to mean that the explanation has to cover the whole period. This apply to the delay in re-presentation also. The delay should not be attributable to negligence, inaction or want of bona fide on the part of the defaulting party. In other words, if there is material to indicate the party's negligence in not taking necessary steps, which he would have or should have taken, the Rule of Liberal Approach to such a party cannot be extended.
5. ......
6. On a reading of the above said principle set out, it is well settled that the Rule of Liberal Approach should be extended while considering the application for condonation of delay only when sufficient cause has been shown and there is no lack of bona fide or an attempt to hoodwink the Court by the party concerned, who has come forward with an Application for condonation of delay. In such cases, no indulgence could be shown by condoning the delay.
7. ......
8. The explanation given by the Respondent is that the papers have been mixed up with other bundles in their Lawyer's office and was traced out after three years cannot at any stretch of imagination be considered to be a sufficient cause. In examining the request for condoning the delay in representation, the relevant facts that requires to be taken into consideration is that a decree has been passed against the Respondent, declaring that the agreement of sale is unenforceable and barred by limitation and in the said view of the matter, the conduct of the respondent clearly shows that there has been a delibe
