Supreme Court condones appeal delay due to illness, remands case for merit review

The Supreme Court allowed the appeals, set aside the impugned order, condoned the delay in filing the appeal before the HC, and remanded the case for deciding the appeal on its merits. The Court found the appellant's prolonged illness, including heart disease and dengue fever, along with mental disturbance due to family disputes, constituted a genuine and sufficient cause under Section 5 of the Limitation Act. Consequently, the delay in filing the appeal was condoned, subject to the appellant paying a cost of Rs. 10,000 to respondent No. 1.

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Issues:
1. Condonation of delay in filing appeal before the High Court.
2. Setting aside the ex parte decree passed by the Family Court.
3. Granting maintenance under Section 26 of the Family Courts Act.
4. Application under Order IX Rule 13 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.

Condonation of Delay in Filing Appeal Before the High Court:
The appellant filed an appeal before the High Court, delayed by 554 days, seeking condonation of the delay under Section 5 of the Limitation Act. The High Court dismissed the application for condonation of delay and the appeal, stating that the appellant failed to provide sufficient cause for the delay. The Supreme Court, after considering the appellant's prolonged illness during the relevant period, including heart disease and dengue fever, found the cause shown by the appellant to be genuine. The Court held that the appellant's illness and mental disturbance due to family disputes constituted a sufficient cause under Section 5 of the Limitation Act. Consequently, the delay in filing the appeal was condoned, subject to the appellant paying a cost of Rs. 10,000 to respondent No. 1.

Setting Aside the Ex Parte Decree Passed by the Family Court:
The Family Court had passed an ex parte decree against the appellant on 16.10.2014 because he failed to appear in the suit. The appellant filed an application under Order IX Rule 13 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, to set aside the ex parte decree. However, the Family Judge dismissed the application, leading to the dismissal of the application filed under Order IX Rule 13 without considering its merit. The Supreme Court did not delve into the specifics of this issue in the judgment.

Granting Maintenance Under Section 26 of the Family Courts Act:
Respondent No. 1 had filed a suit against the appellant and respondent No. 6 in the Family Court, Malappuram, for realization of gold ornaments or their value, and for maintenance under Section 26 of the Family Courts Act. The suit was contested by the appellant and respondent No. 6. However, the Family Judge placed the appellant ex parte and passed a decree against him. The Supreme Court did not provide detailed analysis on this issue in the judgment.

Application Under Order IX Rule 13 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908:
The appellant had filed an application under Order IX Rule 13 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, to set aside the ex parte decree passed by the Family Court. The Family Judge dismissed the application, and the Supreme Court did not address this issue specifically in the judgment.

In conclusion, the Supreme Court allowed the appeals, set aside the impugned order, condoned the delay in filing the appeal before the High Court, and remanded the case to the High Court for deciding the appeal on its merits. The Court emphasized the genuine cause shown by the appellant, related to his prolonged illness, as sufficient to warrant the condonation of the delay in filing the appeal.

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