Baskar and Ors. v. Sakeem and Ors.
Condonation of delay – Section 5, Limitation Act, 1963
Case brief
What is this about?
Punjab and Haryana High Court (Deepak Gupta, J., oral, decided 03.02.2026), FAO-1754-2022 (O&M): Baskar and Others v. Sakeem and others. Heirs of deceased Naûsh sought condonation of 333-day delay in appealing MACT award of Rs. 18,33,328/- (award dated 08.01.2019); delay not condoned; appeal dismissed as time-barred. Keywords: Section 5 Limitation Act, sufficient cause, condonation of delay, inordinate delay, motor accident claim, quantum of compensation, appeal barred by limitation.
What did the court decide?
The explanation offered by the appellants for the delay is wholly vague and general; merely stating unawareness of the legal position or late engagement of High Court counsel does not constitute sufficient cause, particularly as they were duly represented by counsel before the Tribunal, and no specific dates, steps taken or intervening circumstances were disclosed to explain the prolonged 333-day delay.