VIKRAM AGGARWAL, J. (ORAL)

This is defendants’ appeal against the judgment and decree dated 29.04.2019 passed by the Court of Additional District Judge, Jalandhar, whereby the appeal filed by the defendants against the judgment and decree dated 07.05.2018 passed by the Court of Civil Judge (Junior Division), Jalandhar, was dismissed.

The appeal is accompanied by an application (CM-6340-C-2026) filed under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963 seeking condonation of 2469 days’ delay in filing the appeal.

It has been mentioned in the said application that the applicants-appellants, being laymen were not aware of their right to prefer an appeal. Still further, it has been averred that due to lack of funds, the applicants-appellants could not engage a counsel. Reference has also been made to the directions issued by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India on 08.03.2021 in Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No.3 of 2020 IN RE: COGNIZANCE FOR EXTENSION OF LIMITATION.

Learned counsel representing the applicants-appellants, while reiterating the averments made in the application seeking condonation of delay, argues that the delay of 2469 days in filing the appeal, is neither intentio