Belated appeal may be entertained on statutory compliance, with merits to be decided after required deposits are made.

A belated appeal may be registered and decided on merits where the appellant complies with the prescribed late fee, penalty and other statutory deposit requirements. Following a coordinate Bench order in an identical matter, the HC granted the petitioner liberty to file the appeal within the stipulated period and directed the appellate authority to entertain it and decide it on merits upon statutory compliance. The writ petition therefore succeeded, but no opinion was expressed on the merits of the underlying dispute.

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Issues: Whether the petitioner was entitled to have the belated appeal registered and decided on merits, subject to compliance with the statutory deposit requirements.

Analysis: The petition was disposed of in line with the coordinate Bench order in an identical matter. The Court accepted the same course for the present case and granted the petitioner liberty to file the appeal within the stipulated period, with the appellate authority required to register and decide it on merits upon compliance with the prescribed late fee, penalty and other statutory deposits.

Conclusion: The petitioner was held entitled to the requested relief, and the appeal was directed to be entertained and decided on merits subject to statutory compliance.

Final Conclusion: The writ petition succeeded and the petitioner obtained a direction enabling consideration of the appellate remedy without any opinion on the merits of the dispute.

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