Mandatory appeal limitation under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code barred condonation beyond the statutory outer limit.

Delay in filing an appeal under Section 61 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code is confined to the statutory window of 30 days, with a further extension available only up to 15 days on sufficient cause shown. The appellate tribunal treated this limit as mandatory and jurisdictional, holding that no delay beyond the outer limit can be condoned. The reasons given-residence in another State, difficulty in collecting old documents, and time taken for drafting-were found to be an excuse, not sufficient cause. The application for condonation of delay was rejected.

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Issues: Whether delay of 15 days in filing the appeal could be condoned under Section 61 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, and whether the appeal could be entertained beyond the additional period of 15 days.

Analysis: The statutory scheme permits an appeal to be filed within 30 days and, on sufficient cause being shown, the appellate authority may allow filing only up to a further period of 15 days. The provision was treated as mandatory and restrictive, leaving no jurisdiction to condone delay beyond the outer limit. The explanation offered for delay was found to be an excuse rather than a sufficient cause, as residence in another State, difficulty in collecting old documents, and time taken for drafting did not justify non-compliance with the prescribed timeline.

Conclusion: The delay was not condonable and the application for condonation of delay was rejected.

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