In case of Collector, Land Acquisition, Anantnag v. Katiji AIR

Judgment

1. Bhajanlal S/o Hardevram, R/o Bhavi Road Lamba, Bhi- lada, Jodhpur (Driver And Owner - Vehicle No. Rj-19-Gg- 0541)

2. The New India Insuance Company Limited, Having Its Re- gional Officer At Kamla Nehru Bridge, Ajmer Road, Bhakrota, Police Station Bhakrota, Jaipur-302019 Through Its Regional Manager (Insurer- Vehicle No Rj-19- Gg-0541) ----Respondents For Appellant(s)

: Mr. Vikram Singh Solanki For Respondent(s) : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ASHOK KUMAR JAIN 06/02/2025 Order

1. Instant civil misc. appeal is preferred aggrieved and dissatisfied from award dated 11.11.2022 in claim case No. 352/2022 (421/2020) by learned Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Jaipur by appellant-claimants, in a claim petition under Section 166 and 140 of Motor Vehicles Act.

2. Office has pointed out a delay of 527 days and to substantiate the reasons of delay an application under Section 5 of Limitation Act is filed. [2025:RJ-JP:5474] (2 of 6) [CMA-3542/2024]

3. Learned counsel for appellant submits that appellants are rustic villagers and not aware about the legal proceedings. He further submits that after knowledge of award they have filed instant appeal for enhancement.

4. Heard learned counsel for appellant and perused the material placed on record.

5. After award on 11.11.2022 by learned Motor Accident Claims Tribunal in favor of appellants-claimants, instant civil misc. appeal is filed on 31.07.2024 for enhancement in compensation on certain grounds. The Tribunal has already awarded ₹10,60,662/- with interest as compensation. Initially, for accident of 03.07.2020 the claim petition was filed on 11.11.2020. It means the claimants were well-aware about their right to seek compensation under Section 166 and 140 of Motor Vehicles Act.

6. Herein, the claimants have not filed any document in support of application under Section 5 of Limitation Act and moreover, they have failed to show any convincing reason to consider the ground for condonation of delay as sufficient. 7. Section 5 of the Limitation Act prescribes that any appeal or revision or an application may be admitted after the prescribed period, if the appellant or the petitioner satisfies the Court on sufficient cause for not preferring an appeal or revision or making an application within prescribed period.

8. In case of Collector, Land Acquisition, Anantnag Vs. Katiji AIR 1987 SC 1353, Hon’ble Supreme Court laid down the following principles to allow application under Section 5 of the Limitation Act:- [2025:RJ-JP:5474] (3 of 6) [CMA-3542/2024]

1. Ordinarily a litigant does not stand to benefit by lodging an appeal late. 2. Refusing to condone delay can result in a meritorious matter being thrown out at the very threshold and cause of justice being defeated. As against this when delay is condoned the highest that can happen is that a cause would be decided on merits after hearing the parties. 3. "Every days delay must be explained" does not mean that a pedantic approach should be made. Why not every hours delay. every seconds delay? The doctrine must be applied in a rational common sense pragmatic manner. 4. When substantial justice and technical considerations are pitted against each other, cause of substantial justice deserves to be preferred for the other side cannot claim to have vested right in injustice being done because of a non-deliberate delay. 5. There is no presumption that delay is occasioned deliberately, or on account of culpable negligence, or on account of mala fides. A litigant does not stand to benefit by resorting to delay. In fact he runs a serious risk. 6. It must be grasped that judiciary is respected not on account of its power to legalize injustice on technical grounds but because it is capable of removing injustice and is expected to do so.

9. In case of Balwant Singh (dead) Vs. Jagdish Singh and Ors. 2010 (8) SCC 685, Hon’ble Supreme Court while considering Section 5 of Limitation Act has referred the judgment in the case of Union of India Vs. Ram Charan AIR 1964 SC 215 and observed that the explained delay should be clearly understood in contradistinction to inordinate unexplained delay. Delay is just one of the ingredients which has to be considered by the Court. In addition to this, the Court must also take into account the conduct of the parties, bona fide reasons for condonation of delay and whether such delay could easily be [2025:RJ-JP:5474] (4 of 6) [CMA-3542/2024] avoided by the applicant acting with normal care and caution. The statutory provisions mandate that applications for condonation of delay and applications belatedly filed beyond the prescribed period of limitation, should be rejected unless sufficient cause is shown for condonation of delay. The larger benches as well as equi- benches of Hon’ble Supreme Court have consistently followed these principles and have either allowed or declined to condone the delay in filing such applications. Thus, it is the requirement of law that these applications cannot be allowed as a matter of right and even in a routine manner. An applicant must essentially satisfy the above stated ingredients; then alone the Court would be inclined to condone the delay.

11. In the case of Brijesh Kumar & Ors. v. State of Haryana & Ors.: (2014) 13 SCC 291, while referring the judgment of Esha Bhattacharjee v. Raghunathpur Nafar Academy & Ors.: (2013) 12 SCC 649, Hon'ble Supreme Court has laid down that sufficient cause is a condition precedent for exercise of discretion by the Court for condonation of delay. The Supreme Court further observed that the Court cannot condone the delay, if it is not properly, satisfactorily and convincingly explained, and a delay cannot be condoned on sympathetic grounds.

12. Very recently condonation of delay under Section 5 of Limitation Act was considered by Hon’ble Supreme Court in case of P. Subba Reddy (died) by LRs. And Ors. Vs. Special Deputy Collector (LA) 2024 INSC 286 wherein also it was held that unless sufficient cause is shown the application under Section 5 of Limitation Act cannot be allowed. The underlying provisions [2025:RJ-JP:5474] (5 of 6) [CMA-3542/2024] after harmonious construction of provision of law were formulated in following manner:- (i) Law of limitation is based upon public policy that there should be an end to litigation by forfeiting the right to remedy rather than the right itself; (ii) A right or the remedy that has not been exercised or availed of for a long time must come to an end or cease to exist after a fixed period of time; (iii) The provisions of the L imitation Act have to be construed differently, such as Section 3 has to be construed in a strict sense whereas Section 5 has to be construed liberally; liberal (iv) In order to advance substantial justice, justice-oriented approach, though approach or cause of substantial justice may be kept in mind but the same cannot be used to defeat the substantial law of limitation contained in Section 3 of the Limitation Act; (v) Courts are empowered to exercise discretion to condone the delay if sufficient cause had been explained, but that exercise of power is discretionary in nature and may not be exercised even if sufficient cause is established for various factors such as, where there is inordinate delay, negligence and want of due diligence; (vi) Merely some persons obtained relief in similar matter, it does not mean that others are also entitled to the same benefit if the court is not satisfied with the cause shown for the delay in filing the appeal; (vii) Merits of the case are not required to be considered in condoning the delay; and (viii) Delay condonation application has to be decided on the parameters laid down for condoning the delay and condoning the delay for the reason that the conditions have been imposed, tantamount to disregarding the statutory provision.

13. In case of H. Guruswamy & Ors. Vs. A. Krishnaiah Since Deceased by LRs (Civil Appeal no. 317/2025) reported as 2025 INSC 53 Hon’ble Supreme Court observed as under: [2025:RJ-JP:5474] (6 of 6) [CMA-3542/2024] “13. We are at our wits end to understand why the High Court overlooked all the aforesaid aspects. What was the good reason for the High Court to ignore all this? Time and again, the Supreme Court has reminded the District judiciary as well the High courts that the concepts such as “liberal approach”, “Justice oriented approach”, “substantial justice” should not be employed to frustrate or jettison the substantial law of limitation. 17. We are of the view that the question of limitation is not merely a technical consideration. The rules of limitation are based on the principles of sound public policy and principles of equity. No court should keep the ‘Sword of Damocles’ hanging over the head of a litigant for an indefinite period of time.”

14. Having considered the law over the point, I am of the considered view the reasons assigned is not sufficient to condone the delay, therefore, application under Section 5 of Limitation Act is liable to be dismissed.

15. As a result, the application under Section 5 of Limitation Act and also the civil misc. appeal is hereby dismissed with pending application(s), if any. MONU /19 (ASHOK KUMAR JAIN),J