1. In this appeal by special leave a short but an interesting question falls for determination. It is to the effect 'whether the appellate authority constituted under S.18 of the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965 (hereinafter referred to as the 'Rent Act') has power to condone the delay in the filing of appeal before it under the said section'. Majority of the Kerala High Court in the case of Jokkim Fernandez v. Amina Kunhi Umma, 1973 KLT 138 = AIR 1974 Ker.162) has taken the view that the appellate authority has no such power. Following the said decision a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court by its judgment and order under appeal has dismissed the revision application moved by the appellant herein whose appeal before the appellate authority was dismissed as time barred and the application for condonation of delay was treated to be not maintainable before the appellate authority.

2. A few relevant facts leading to these proceedings may now be looked at. The appellant is a tenant occupying the suit premises belonging to respondent-landlord. The respondent filed Rent Control Petition No. 117/92 before the Rent Control Court, Kannur, Kerala State, seek