Pawan Kumar v. Shiv Chaudhary & Ors.

1. This appeal is directed against the impugned award dated 14.08.2012, whereby the learned Tribunal has awarded compensation for a sum of Rs.3,96,000/- with interest at the rate of 7.5% per annum from the date of filing of the claim petition till realization of the amount in favour of the appellant for the injuries received in the accident.

2. Vide the present appeal, the appellant is seeking enhancement of compensation amount noted above. 2014:DHC:1219

3. The Appeal is accompanied by an application under consideration which is for condonation of delay of 252 days in filing the appeal.

4. Before considering the merits of the grounds raised in the appeal, the appellant is required to cross over the main hurdle of delay in approaching this Court. The circumstance in which delay in filing appeals under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, is provided in the second proviso to Section 173 (1) of the Act. The same is reproduced for convenience:- “173. Appeals-(1)....Provided further that the High Court may entertain the appeal after the expiry of the said period of ninety days, if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from preferring the appeal in time.”

5. From the above, it is manifest that an appeal filed after the expiry of period of 90 days may be entertained by the High Court only if it is satisfied that the appellant was “prevented by sufficient cause” from preferring it within the prescribed period. It is thus obvious that discretion in condoning delay may be exercised by the High Court only if the appellant is successful in showing that he was prevented by sufficient cause from preferring the appeal in time.

6. Keeping in view this principle, let us examine as to whether in the present case the appellant has been successful in satisfying the aforesaid requirement.

7. The grounds for condonation of delay have been mentioned in paras-2 to 7, which are reproduced as under: “ 2. That after receiving the compensation amount from the Ld. Tribunal, the appellant was under depression and was undergoing her (sic. „his‟) treatment.

3. That the appellant was not aware of appeal proceedings and on an occasion one of the relatives of the appellant who is an Advocate asked the appellant that the compensation amount was on lower side and advised him to file an appeal for enhancement of compensation.

4. That on 15.07.2013 the appellant came into contact with his counsel for enhancement of compensation and hence this appeal.

5. That in the above noted case, the Ld. Tribunal has awarded a sum of Rs.1,37,000/- (sic as compensation of „Rs.3,96,000/-‟ has been granted) vide judgment dt.14.08.2012.

6. That the present appeal is barred by days due to the reason stated above.

7. That the delay in filing the present appeal is neither intentional nor deliberate but to the above said reason.”

8. On a perusal of the pleadings as set out above, it is evident that it is a case of gross negligence and latches. Moreover, counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant has also failed to give any plausible explanation for this inordinate delay.

9. In view of the above discussion, the application for condonation of delay is liable to be rejected for the following reasons:

(I) It is clear from paragraphs 2 to 4 that although one of the relatives of the appellant, being an Advocate, had advised him to file an appeal and thereafter, on 15.07.2013, he had contacted his counsel for filing an appeal for enhancement of compensation, however, the instant appeal was filed only on 07.08.2013. There is no explanation at all as to when he was advised for filing the appeal and even what had prevented him from filing the appeal in time. It is also not explained as to why it took 22 days in filing this appeal even after contacting the counsel on 15.07.2013.