The Project Director, v. R. Jeyamani
Case brief
What is this about?
A batch of miscellaneous petitions seeking condonation of extraordinary delay in filing appeals against arbitration award modifications. The High Court dismissed the petitions, holding that delay defeats equity, subsequent law changes do not justify review or condone delay, and the reasons given were unjustified.
What the court decided
C.M.P.(MD).Nos.10864 of 2022 and batch
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
Reserved on : 22.11.2023 Delivered on: 21.03.2024
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE RMT.TEEKAA RAMAN
AND
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.B.BALAJI
CMP (MD) Nos.10864, 10868 & 12878 of 2022 and 1857, 1976, 4670, 4724, 4811, 4825, 4834, 4881, 4978, 5061, 5092, 6075, 6080, 6082, 6085, 6116, 6120, 6122, 6126, 6317, 6345, 6358, 6366, 6367, 6406, 6417, 6419 & 6602 of 2023
in CMA (MD) SR. Nos.45045, 45046, 66539, 66900, 81484, 10326, 66903, 66905 and 66901 of 2022 & 2091, 2089, 1678, 2022, 2085, 2087, 1568, 2093, 2014, 2010, 1718, 1716, 2013, 1571, 1714, 1672, 1674, 1680, 1685, 1684, 1682, 2097 of 2023
C.M.P.(MD) No.10864 of 2022
The Project Director, National Highways No.45E & 220, National Highways Authority of India having his office at 83/1, Suriya Towers, 1st East Street, K.K.Nagar, Madurai -20, Presently at Plot No.1, Aishwaryam Heights, Indira Nagar, 1st Street, Sennamanaickenpatti (PO), Thadikombu Road, Dindigul – 624 004.
Issues for consideration
3 issues framed by the court
Whether the delay of varying periods ranging from 159 to 1515 days in filing Civil Miscellaneous Appeals can be condoned.
Whether a subsequent change in law (Supreme Court decision on Section 34 of Arbitration Act) constitutes sufficient cause for condonation of delay.
Whether mere administrative delay and the pandemic situation constitute sufficient cause for condoning such significant over-limit delays.
Parties & counsel
- petitioner
The Project Director, National Highways No.45E & 220, NHAI
- respondent
1. R. Jeyamani
- respondent
The Competent Authority cum Special District Revenue Officer
Coram
Case details
As recorded by the court registry
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