Sufficient cause for delay by senior citizen justifies condonation of limitation and remand for merits.

ORDER

This Writ Petition has been filed challenging the impugned order, dated 23.01.2026 passed by the 1^st respondent, rejecting the petitioner’s appeal, dated 08.10.2025 on the ground that the appeal was filed belatedly beyond the prescribed time limit and no sufficient cause was shown by the petitioner for the said delay.

2. Mr.C.Jayaprakash, learned Government Advocate, accepts notice on behalf of the respondents 1 and 2. Since no adverse order is passed against the 3^rd respondent in this writ petition, notice to the 3^rd respondent is dispensed with by this Court.

3. Admittedly, the appeal was disposed of at the threshold itself without issuing notice to the 3^rd respondent on the ground of limitation. The petitioner is a senior citizen and aged about 75 years. The petitioner has given reasons in the grounds of appeal for filing the appeal belatedly.

This Court is satisfied with the same as sufficient cause has been shown by the petitioner for the delay in filing the appeal. Despite the same, the 1^st respondent has rejected the petitioner’s appeal through the impugned order, dated 23.01.2026 only on the ground of limitation. Since sufficient cause has been shown by the petitioner for filing the appeal, this Court is of the considered view that the impugned order has to be quashed and the matter has to be remanded back to the 1^st respondent for fresh consideration on merits and in accordance with law, within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.

4. This Court is not expressing any opinion on the merits of the petitioner’s appeal.

5. For the foregoing reasons, this Writ Petition is disposed of by quashing the impugned order, dated 23.01.2026 passed by the 1^st respondent and by remanding the matter back to the 1^st respondent for fresh consideration on merits and in accordance with law. The 1^st respondent shall pass final orders on merits and in accordance with law, on the petitioner’s appeal, dated 08.10.2025, after hearing the objections of all the necessary parties, which includes the 3^rd respondent and after giving due consideration to the supporting documents produced by them and by adhering to the principles of natural justice, within a period of twelve (12) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs.