Liberal construction of sufficient cause supports condonation where prompt, bona fide steps are shown and negligence is absent.

Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963, requires a liberal construction of "sufficient cause" where the applicant shows no negligence, inaction, or lack of bona fides. The Court noted that the State acted promptly after discovering that no appeal had been filed, sought legal advice, and took steps under Article 227 before filing the regular appeals with condonation applications. Because the High Court had not properly considered the material or recorded reasons showing false explanation or negligence, the delay was condoned and the applications were allowed.

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Issues: Whether the delay in filing the appeals should be condoned under section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963, on the basis of sufficient cause.

Analysis: The Court held that the expression "sufficient cause" must receive a liberal construction where no negligence, inaction, or want of bona fides is attributable to the party seeking condonation. The High Court had dismissed the applications without properly considering the materials placed by the State and without recording reasons showing that the explanations were false or that the State had acted negligently. The record showed that after the State became aware that no appeal had been filed, it pursued the matter promptly, obtained legal advice, and acted on that advice in taking steps under Article 227 before filing the regular appeals with applications for condonation. Wrong legal advice and the absence of proved negligence were relevant circumstances supporting exercise of discretion in favour of condonation.

Conclusion: The delay was liable to be condoned and the applications under section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963, were allowed.

Ratio Decidendi: Where the applicant shows prompt and bona fide steps to challenge the order and no negligence or inaction is established, delay should be condoned by a liberal exercise of discretion under section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963.

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