IN THE DELHI STATE CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION Date of Institution:23.12.2025 (Online)

07.01.2026 (Physically)

Date of hearing : 03.02.2026 Date of Decision : 11.03.2026 FIRST APPEAL NO. 14/2026 IN THE MATTER OF PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK THROUGH ITS AUTHORIZED OFFICER BRANCH OFFICE:

2/23-24, VIJAY CHOWK KRISHNA NAGAR, DELHI-110051 (Through Ms. Sampanna Pani, Advocate Email: ptlawoffies@ptlawoffices.in Mob.9540050991)

…APPLICANT/APPELLANT VERSUS SHAKUNTALA SHARMA (SINCE DECEASED)

THROUGH HER LR/SON RAKESH KUMAR SHARMA S/O LATE SH. MEGHRAJ SHARMA R/O A-14 BSF SOCIETY SECTOR-PIE GREATER NOIDA, UTTAR PRADESH-201310 ....NON-APPLICANT/RESPONDENT CORAM:

HON’BLE JUSTICE SANGITA DHINGRA SEHGAL (PRESIDENT)

HON’BLE MS. BIMLA KUMARI, MEMBER (FEMALE)

Present: Ms. Sampanna Pani and Ms. Sejal Jain, counsel for the appellant (Email: sampanna.pani@ptlawoffices.in and Mobile No.9540050991).

PER: HON’BLE MS. BIMLA KUMARI, MEMBER (FEMALE)

1. The present appeal has been filed on

23.12.2025 (through online vide reference no.202512230726) and 07.01.2026 (physically) challenging the impugned order dated 30.05.2025 passed in Complaint Case No.278/2020 by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission-IX (East District), Convenient Shopping Centre, Saini Enclave, Delhi-110092.

2. This order will dispose off an application bearing IA No.42/2026 seeking condonation of delay in filing the appeal, filed along with the appeal. Affidavit of Mr. Rajeev Kumar Thakur, Authorized Representative of the appellant has been filed along with this application.

3. We have considered the submissions put forth by the appellant and carefully perused the record.

4. The application has been moved without mentioning any provision of law. However, it is being considered under Section 41 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 as it is arising out of Complaint Case No.278/2020 filed on 02.12.2020.

5. Application for condonation of delay has been filed on various grounds. Para No. 3 to 6 of the application read as under:

“3. That the certified copy of the Impugned Judgment dated 30.05.2025 was received by the appellant on 08.07.2025. It is submitted that in terms of Section 41 of Consumer Protection Act, 2019, an appeal against the order of District Commission is required to be filed within a period of 45 days from the date of receipt of the order of from the District Commission. Thus, in the present appeal, the period of 45 days for filing the appeal expired on 22.08.2025. However, it is humbly submitted that the delay in filing the present appeal was due to Bonafide reasons and was not deliberate or collusive.

4. That there is a delay of 122 days in filing of the present appeal, calculated from 22.08.2025.

5. That the appellant humbly seeks the indulgence of this Hon'ble Commission to condone the delay of 122 days in filing the present appeal. It is submitted that owing to various administrative and managerial changes, there is delay in filing the present appeal. It is submitted that the appellant bank had to collect the complete case files from the previous counsel and hand it over to the new counsel for filing the present appeal, as the earlier counsel is severely ill and hospitalized in ATIMS. Due to this logistical issue, there was delay in collecting the files and preparing the draft of the appeal. 6. That it is further submitted that the appellant bank had to take reasoned and detailed legal opinion before filing of the present appeal and this procedural requirement has taken up some time. As such, it resulted in further delay in filing the present appeal.”

6. To adjudicate this issue, we deem it appropriate to refer to Section 41 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 which provides as under:-

41. “Any person aggrieved by an order made by the District Commission may prefer an appeal against such order to the State Commission on the grounds of facts or law within a period of forty-five days from the date of the order, in such form and manner, as may be prescribed:

Provided that the St