Condonation of delay requires sufficient cause; unexplained delay and weak explanation led to dismissal of the appeal.

Delay in filing an appeal will not be condoned absent a satisfactory explanation showing sufficient cause. The Delhi HC found that a 3 years and 192 days delay remained substantially unexplained, including the delayed filing of the review petition, even after excluding the period when that review was pending. The appellant's participation in other proceedings during the same period further weakened the plea of incapacity. Limitation could not be disregarded on equitable grounds alone, so the delay was not condoned and the appeal was dismissed.

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Issues: Whether the delay of 3 years and 192 days in filing the appeal deserved condonation.

Analysis: The appellant failed to give any satisfactory explanation for the long delay in filing the appeal, including the unexplained delay in moving the review petition. The period during which the review petition remained pending was already excluded while computing delay, yet the remaining delay stayed wholly unexplained. The appellant's participation in other proceedings during the same period also undermined the plea of incapacity. The Court found no sufficient cause to excuse the inordinate delay and held that limitation could not be ignored on equitable grounds alone.

Conclusion: The delay was not condoned and the appeal was dismissed on the ground of delay.

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