$~2 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + RFA 844/2025 NIRANJAN LAL .....Appellant Through: Mr. Ram Kishan and Mr. Pramod Kumar, Advocates.

Appellant in-person.

versus M/S PARNIKA COMMERCIAL AND ESTATES PVT LTD .....Respondent Through:

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANUP JAIRAM BHAMBHANI

O R D E R

% 30.10.2025 CM APPL. 56365/2025 (exemption)

Exemption granted, subject to just exceptions.

The application stands disposed of.

CM APPL. 56366/2025 By way of the present application filed under section 5 of the Limitation Act 1963 read with section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure 1908, the appellant seeks condonation of about 15 years and 02 months’ delay in filing the regular first appeal.

2. Considering the period of delay, the court has heard Mr. Ram Kishan, learned counsel appearing for the appellant on the present application.

3. Counsel submits, that on 28.04.2010, the appellant (plaintiff in the suit) applied for a certified copy of impugned judgement dated

26.04.2010, whereby his suit for recovery of money was partly decreed; and its certified copy was received by him on 13.05.2010.

4. Counsel submits, that thereafter, on 17.05.2010 the appellant approached the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee (‘DHCLSC’) for being assigned a legal-aid counsel to represent him. However, even though a legal-aid counsel was assigned to him, that counsel did not file the appeal and instead rendered an opinion that there was no justification for filing the regular first appeal. It is submitted that the legal-aid officials accepted the opinion of their counsel; and on the basis of that legal opinion, vide order dated 22.07.2010 the Officer on Special Duty at the DLSA declined the appellant’s request for assigning a legal-aid counsel to the appellant.

5. Subsequently, the appellant filed an appeal against order dated

22.07.2010 declining legal-aid, which appeal was considered by the Chairperson of the DHCLSC, and vide order dated 02.08.2010, the appeal was dismissed, with the Chairperson agreeing with the opinion of the legal-aid counsel; and observing that the request for legal-aid was rightly declined to the appellant.

6. It is the appellant’s case in the present application, that thereafter, he approached a private counsel and paid him a fee of Rs. 15,000/- in- cash as advance; and that the private lawyer drew-up the appeal in August 2010; got it signed from the appellant; and assured the appellant that the appeal had been filed, though in-fact he had not done so.

7. It is further the appellant’s case, that on 06.09.2010, the appellant received an advance copy of the appeal filed by the respondent challenging the same impugned judgement and decree dated 26.04.2010; whereupon, the appellant says, he was advised by his private counsel that the appeal signed by him would be filed as a counter-appeal; and would be decided along with the main appeal.

8. Counsel submits, that the appeal filed by the respondent, bearing RFA No. 645/2010 was dismissed for non-prosecution vide order dated 10.07.2024; and thereafter, the appellant (respondent in the said appeal) filed an application for release of the amount deposited in that appeal by the respondent (appellant in that appeal), which was recorded in order dated 26.05.2025 passed in that appeal. According to the appellant, the application for release of the deposited amount is still pending before a Co-ordinate Bench.

9. It is the appellant’s contention, that though he enquired from his private counsel about the fate of his appeal (or counter-appeal), but he received no response in that behalf.

10. The present application also recites that the appellant filed a complaint against the legal-aid counsel, who had rendered an opinion against filing of the appeal; as well as against the private counsel, before the Bar Council of Delhi, which complaints stand dismissed vide order dated 05.05.2025 passed by the Bar Council of Delhi.

11. Counsel submits, that the appellant has filed a revision petition against the Bar C