Condonation of delay requires a bona fide, fully explained cause; vague and negligent explanations will not justify relief.

Under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963, condonation of delay requires a bona fide and satisfactorily explained cause; a liberal approach cannot excuse a vague, unsupported or negligent explanation. The Court found the explanation for more than seven years' delay unsatisfactory because it omitted crucial particulars about the alleged misplacement of records, the persons involved, and why certified copies were not sought despite prior intimation of the judgment. The delay was therefore not covered by sufficient cause, the condonation order was set aside, and the appeals were dismissed.

---

---

Issues: Whether the delay of more than 7 years in filing the appeals was supported by sufficient cause under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963 so as to justify condonation.

Analysis: The expression "sufficient cause" is elastic, and courts may adopt a liberal and justice-oriented approach in appropriate cases to advance substantial justice. At the same time, the successful litigant acquires rights by lapse of limitation, and delay cannot be condoned as a matter of course, particularly where the explanation is vague, unsupported, or lacking in bona fides. The explanation offered for the extraordinary delay was found to be unsatisfactory because it did not disclose crucial particulars about the alleged misplacement of records, the persons concerned, or the reasons for not even seeking certified copies for over seven years despite prior intimation of the judgment.

Conclusion: The delay was not shown to be covered by sufficient cause and ought not to have been condoned. The order condoning delay was set aside and the respondent's appeals stood dismissed.

Ratio Decidendi: Condonation of delay under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963 depends on a bona fide and satisfactorily explained cause; where the explanation is vague, negligent, or unconscionably delayed, the court should refuse to condone the delay despite the general liberal approach.

---