Unraveling the Principles of Delay Condonation: A Comprehensive Analysis by the Supreme Court

Condonation of delay: courts require sufficient cause, balancing strict limitation rules with liberal remedial discretion.

Principles of condonation of delay require balancing the Limitation Act's public policy against stale litigation: Section 3 is to be strictly interpreted while Section 5 is to be construed liberally to allow judicial discretion where sufficient cause is shown. Discretion remains limited by considerations such as inordinate delay, negligence, and lack of due diligence, and prior decisions granting condonation do not automatically justify relief unless the factual matrices are substantially similar.