INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BANK OF INDIA vs RAVI KANTA GOYAL

IT is an application for condonation of delay of 42 days in filing the appeal against the order dated 19.3.2002 of District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Sangrur (hereinafter called the "District Forum").

ACCORDING to the applicant-appellant/opposite party No. 1 (hereinafter called the "applicant"), appeal against the impugned order dated 19.3.2002 was filed on 16.10.2002 attaching only a photostat copy of the order along with the grounds of appeal. The appeal was returned to the applicant vide order dated 18.10.2002 of this Commission by passing the following order : "Without certified copy the appeal is not competent. The papers may be returned to the appellant or his representative. This appeal is thus disposed of accordingly." It is mentioned in the application that on the basis of the order of the Commission dated 18.10.2002, the applicant had advised its Ludhiana Office on 25.10.2002 to obtain a certified copy of the impugned order. The Ludhiana Office made an application before the District Forum on 29.10.2002. The certified copy was supplied to the applicant on 29.10.2002 itself. Even after the receipt of the certified copy on 29.10.2002, the present appeal was filed only on 27.11.2002. The ground for delay in filing the appeal as mentioned in the application is only that the applicant was a financial institution and the present case was dealt by its Head Office which had taken some time.

In these circumstances, we hardly find any sufficient ground to condone the delay of 42 days in filing the appeal. This application is, thus, dismissed. Consequently, the appeal is also dismissed as belated. Misc. Application dismissed.