Ghanshyam Singh Lakhawat, Addl. Govt. Ghanshyam Singh Lakhawat, Addl. Govt. Advocate, for Respondent No.2-State of Rajasthan Jheky] lnL;&;g fuxjkuh vUrxZr fu;e 23¼2½ jktLFkku mifuosku ¼bafnjk xka/kh ugj ifj;kstuk {ks= esa ljdkjh Hkwfe dk vkoUVu ,oa foØ;½ fu;e 1975 ¼ftls rRipkr~ ^^fu;e 1975^^ ls lacksf/kr fd;k tk;sxk½ fo:) vfrfjDr vk;qDr mifuosku ,oa jktLo vihy izkf/kdkjh] bafnjk xka/kh ugj ifj;kstuk] chdkusj fnukad 7-5-99 ¼vihy la- 13@98½ ds fo:) izLrqr dh xbZ gSA 2- la{ksi esa izdj.k ds rF; bl izdkj gS fd izkfFkZuh us ,d vkosnu i= ckcr~ pd ua- 1 ,lMCY;w,e dk eqjOok ua- 152@25 dh 13 ch?kk Hkwfe crkSj foks"k vkoUVu esa vkoUVu djus gsrq izLrqr fd;k ftls vkoUVu vf/kdkjh ,oa lgk;d vk;qDr mifuosku] NRrjx< eq- chdkusj us vius vknsk fnukad 30-9-95 }kjk izkFkhZ }kjk lcwr isk ugha fd;s tkus ds dkj.k fujLr dj fn;kA mDr fu.kZ; ls vizlUu gksdj izkfFkZuh us vfrfjDr vk;qDr mifuosku ,oa jktLo vihy vf/kdkjh] chdkusj ds le{k vihy la- 507@95 isk dh] ftls mUgksaus vius fu.kZ; fnukad 24-1-97 }kjk fuf.kZr djrs gq, izdj.k vkoUVu vf/kdkjh ,oa lgk;d vk;qDr mifuosku] NRrjx<+ eq- chdkusj dks bl funsZk ds lkFk izfrizsf"kr fd;k fd izkfFkZuh }kjk vkosfnr Hkwfe ij vU; dksbZ izkFkZuk i= ugha gks rks izkfFkZuh ls lcwr ysdj fu;ekuqlkj vkoaVu djus dh dk;Zokgh dh tkosaA vkoUVu vf/kdkjh ,oa lgk;d vk;qDr mifuosku] NRrjx<+ eq- chdkusj us vius vknsk fnukad 5-7-97 }kjk vkse izdkk iq= jkeyky dks pd ua- 1 ,l-MCY;w-,e- ds eqjOok ua- 152@29 dek.M 5 ch?kk] vudek.M 8 ch?kk dqy 13 ch?kk jdck crkSj foks"k vkoUVu esa vkoafVr fd;kA vknsk fnukad 5-7-97 ls O;fFkr gksdj izkfFkZuh us lgk;d vk;qDr] NRrjx<+ ds le{k fnukad 12-11-97 dks vkosnu i= izLrqr dj dgk fd i=koyh ij izkfFkZuh dk izkFkZuk i= mijksDr of.kZr Hkwfe vkoafVr djus ds fy;s fopkjk/khu gksrs gq, Hkh vU; O;fDr vkse izdkk dks Hkwfe dk vkoUVu dj fn;k tks fujLr fd;k tkosa ,oa rc rd mDr vkoafVr Hkwfe vkse izdkk ds uke vafdr ugha dh tkosa o fu.kZ; ij iqu% fopkj fd;k tkosaA izkfFkZuh }kjk izLrqr fnukad 12-11-97 ds izkFkZuk ds yfEcr jgrs gq, gh izkfFkZuh us vfrfjDr vk;qDr] mifuosku ,oa jktLo vihy vf/kdkjh] chdkusj ds le{k vknsk fnukad 5-7-97 ds fo:) vihy la- 13@98 fnukad 7-1-98 dks izLrqr dj nhA vihy ds lkFk izkfFkZuh us ifjlhek vf/kfu;e] 1963 dh /kkjk 5 dk izkFkZuk i= e; kiFk i= izLrqr fd;kA v/khuLFk vihyh; U;k;ky; us fnukad 10-11-98 dks fe;kn ds fcUnq ij i{kdkjksa dh cgl lquh ,oa fu.kZ; lqjf{kr j[kkA fnukad 12-11-98 dks v/khuLFk vihyh; U;k;ky; us vknsk ikfjr fd;k fd ^mHk; i{k ds rdZ] fordZ fopkjk.kh; gS fdUrq vius i=koyh esa udy nj[okLr dk voyksdu fd;k rks izkFkZuk i= esa vafdr fnukad Hkzked izrhr gksrh gSA rnuqlkj fe;kn dh nj[okLr ij fu.kZ; vihy ds fu.kZ; ds lkFk gh fd;k tkuk ge mfpr le>rs gSA ----** blds ipkr~ v/khuLFk vihyh; U;k;ky; us i{kdkjksa dh cgl lqudj ;g ekuk fd vihykfFkZuh us vihy ds lkFk tkudkjh ds laca/k esa >wBk vkosnu o kiFk i= izLrqr fd;k vkSj vihy [kkfjt dj nhA fu.kZ; fnukad 7-5-99 ls vlarq"V gksdj izkfFkZuh us ;g fuxjkuh jktLo e.My esa isk dhA 3- mHk; i{k ds fo}ku vf/koDrkx.k dh cgl lquhA D;ksafd izkFkhZ dh vihy v/khuLFk U;k;ky; us ifjlhek ds fcUnq ij fujLr dh bl dkj.k vihy esa mUgsa xq.kkoxq.k ij u lqudj fe;kn ds fcUnq ij gh lqudj fu.kZ; fd;k tk jgk gSA ;|fi izkfFkZuh ds vf/koDrk us xq.kkxq.k ij Hkh cgl dhA 4- fo}ku vf/koDrk izkfFkZuh dk rdZ gS fd ;g rF; lgh gS fd vknsk fnukad 5-7-97 dh tkudkjh ifjlhek vf/kfu;e ds izkFkZuk i= esa izkfFkZuh }kjk 20-11-97 vafdr dh xbZ gS tcfd izkfFkZuh us ,d vkosnu i= fnukad 12-11-97 dks izLrqr dj vknsk fnukad 5-7-97 dks fujLr djus dh izkFkZuk dh FkhA ijUrq blls dksbZ QdZ ugha iM+rk D;ksafd jktLo vihy vf/kdkjh ds le{k vihy izLrqr djus dh vof/k 60 fnu gS ,slh fLFkfr esa fnukad 12-11-97 ls tkudkjh ekuh tkosa rks Hkh fnukad 7-1-98 dks vihy izLrqr gks pqdh Fkh tks le;kof/k esa FkhA 60 fnu dh vof/k dh jk; muds vf/koDrk us mUgsa nh Fkh tcfd okLro esa vihy izLrqr djus dh vof/k 30 fnol gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa ;g ,d ln~Hkkfod =qfV Fkh vkSj ,sls rduhdh fcUnq ij v/khuLFk vihyh; U;k;ky; vkSj izkfFkZuh dh vihy fujLr ugha djuh pkfg;s FkhA iwoZ esa izkfFkZuh dh vihy la- 507@95 ij fu.kZ; ikfjr djrs gq, vfrfjDr vk;qDr mifuosku ,oa jktLo vihy vf/kdkjh] chdkusj us izdj.k bl funsZk ds lkFk izfriszf"kr fd;k fd izkfFkZuh dks lquokbZ] lcwr dk volj nsrs gq, vkoUVu dh dk;Zokgh dh tkosaA v/khuLFk U;k;ky; dk nkf;Ro Fkk fd os vizkFkhZ la- 1 dks Hkwfe vkoUVu djus ds iwoZ izkfFkZuh dks lquokbZ dk volj nsrsA izkfFkZuh dk izdj.k muds le{k yfEcr FkkA blds ckotwn Hkh mUgksaus vknsk fnukad 5-7-97 }kjk vizkFkhZ dks Hkwfe vkoafVr dj nhA bl dkj.k vkoUVu Li"Vr;k {ks=kf/kdkj foghu Fkk rFkk ftls ;Fkkor j[kdj vihyh; U;k;ky; us =qfV dhA vihyh; U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr vknsk vk[;kid vknsk ugha gSA vknsk fnukad 5-7-97 fu;e 1975 ds izko/kkuksa ds foijhr gSA ^fu;e 1975^ ds fu;e 7 ¼x o ?k½ esa ljdkjh Hkwfe ds vkoUVu ds fy;s izkFkfedrk,a vfHkfu/kkZfjr gSA v/khuLFk vihyh; U;k;ky; us fu.kZ; ikfjr djrs le; vkoUVu dh izkFkfedrkvksa dks /;ku esa ugha j[kk bl dkj.k Hkh v/khuLFk U;k;ky; dk fu.kZ; fujLr fd;s tkus ;ksX; gSA 5- vizkFkhZ la-1 ds fo}ku vf/koDrk dk rdZ gS fd vknsk fnukad 5-7-97 dk izkfFkZuh dks Kku fnukad 12-11-97 ds iwoZ gh gks x;k Fkk] blh dkj.k mlus lgk;d vk;qDr] NRrjx<+ eq- chdkusj ds le{k izkFkZuk i= isk fd;kA v/khuLFk U;k;ky; esa vihy ds lkFk izkfFkZuh us fe;kn dk tks izkFkZuk i= isk fd;k mlesa mlus mYys[k fd;k fd vknsk fnukad 5-7-97 dk Kku mls 20-11-97 dks gqvk] izFke n`"V;k xyr gS] D;ksafd blds iwoZ gh izkfFkZuh us fnukad 12-11-97 dks lgk;d vk;qDr] NRrjx<+ ¼chdkusj½ ds le{k vkosnu i= izLrqr dj fn;k FkkA vihy izLrqr djus dh vof/k 30 fnol gS vkSj izkfFkZuh dk ;g vfHkdFku fd vknsk fnukad 5-7-97 dh tkudkjh mls 12-11-97 dks gqbZ vkSj mls mlus 60 fnu esa vihy izLrqr dj nh bl dkj.k vihy ifjlhek ds vUnj gS] ekuus ;ksX; ugha gS] D;ksafd izkfFkZuh us vius fuxjkuh ds eheksa esa dgk gS fd ;g ,d lkekU; vfHkHkk"kd dh jk; gks ldrh gS ijUrq blds leFkZu esa izkfFkZuh us fdlh vf/koDrk dk kiFk i= izLrqr ugha fd;kA izkfFkZuh }kjk izLrqr izkFkZuk i= esa ifjlhek vof/k ds izkFkZuk i= dks Lohdkj djus ds fy, i;kZIr dkj.kksa dk mYys[k ugha FkkA kiFk i= vLi"V] vfufpr gS] bl dkj.k v/khuLFk vihyh; U;k;ky; dk fu.kZ; fof/k vuqlkj gSA izkfFkZuh }kjk pkgh xbZ ifjlhek dh vof/k dks {kek ugha fd;k tkuk pkfg;sA vius dFku ds leFkZu esa mUgksaus ,vkbZvkj 1967 jktLFkku ist 24 ¼1½] vkjvkjMh 1999 ist 389 ¼2½] ,vkbZvkj 1999 ,llh ist 738 ¼3½] ih-ds- jkepUnzu cuke LVsV vkWQ dsjy ¼4½] vkjchts 2000 ist 402 ¼5½] vkjvkjMh 2002 ist 26 ¼6½] U;kf;d n`"VkUrksa dk lgkjk fy;kA 6- eSaus mHk; i{k ds fo}ku vf/koDrkx.k dh cgl ij euu fd;k rFkk v/khuLFk U;k;ky;ksa dh i=kofy;ksa] izkfFkZuh }kjk v/khuLFk vihyh; U;k;ky; esa ifjlhek vf/kfu;e] 1963 dh /kkjk 5 ds v/khu foyEc ekQ djus ds fy;s izLrqr vkosnu o mlds leFkZu esa izLrqr kiFk i= ,oa U;kf;d n`"Vkarksa dk voyksdu fd;kA 7- eSa izkfFkZuh ds fo}ku~ vf/koDrk ds bl rdZ ls lger gwa fd v/khuLFk vihyh; U;k;ky; o jktLo e.My dks vihy ds xq.kkxq.k ij fopkj dj ifjlhek vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 5 ds izkFkZuk i= ij fu.kZ; djuk pkfg;sA ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; us jkedyh nsoh ¼Jherh½ cuke eSustj iatkc uskuy cSad] kkgckn o vU; ¼7½] esa ;g vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd;k x;k gS fd%& ``Constitution - Article 136 - Dismissal of appeal on ground of limitation - High Court considering case on merits - No reasons for condonation of delay. Held that merits of case cannot be looked at without condoning delay. Appeal allowed and matter remanded for fresh decision on all points, including limitation. 8- izkfFkZuh us vius ifjlhek vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 5 ds izkFkZuk i= esa Li"V :i ls vafdr fd;k gS fd vkse izdkk dks Hkwfe vkoUVu dh tkudkjh mls fnukad 20-11-1997 dks gqbZ ijUrq izkfFkZuh Lo;a us fnukad 12-11-1997 dks lgk;d vk;qDr] NRrjx< eq- chdkusj ds le{k vknsk fnukad 5-7-1997 ds lEcU/k esa izkFkZuk i= izLrqr dj fuosnu fd;k fd ^izkfFkZ;k dh i=koyh fjekaMkqnk fopkjk/khu gksrs gq, Hkh vU; O;fDr vU; ftys ds gksrs gq, Hkh vkoUVu dj fn;k x;k gS tks fujLr Qjekos rc rd mDr vkoafVr Hkwfe Jh vkse izdkk ds uke ls fjdkMZ esa vadu ugha djus ds vknsk iznku djsa vkSj fd;s x;s fu.kZ; ij iqu% fopkj djus dh d`ik djsaA** blds vfrfjDr v/khuLFk vihyh; U;k;ky; esa izLrqr ifjlhek vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 5 ds izkFkZuk i= esa izkfFkZ;k us ;g vfHkdfFkr fd;k gS fd izkfFkZ;k us fnukad 20-12-1997 dks udy gsrq izkFkZuk i= izLrqr fd;k] tks udy ckn rS;kj fnukad 31-12-1997 dks izkIr gqbZA vknsk fnukad 5-7-1997 dh lR; izfr ds voyksdu ls fof/kr gksrk gS fd vknsk fnukad 5-7-1997 dh izekf.kr izfrfyfi ds fy, izkfFkZ;k ds vf/koDrk Jh vt; dqekj] ,MoksdsV us fnukad 30-12-1997 dks izkFkZuk i= izLrqr fd;k u fd fnukad 20-12-1997 dks] tSlk fd mlus vius kiFk i= esa vafdr fd;kA izekf.kr izfrfyfi fnukad 31-12-1997 dks rS;kj gqbZ vkSj mlh jkst mUgksaus izekf.kr izfrfyfi izkIr dj yhA vihy izLrqr djus dh ifjlhek 30 fnol gSA tkudkjh dh rkjh[k ls izkfFkZ;k us vihy 60 fnu ds vUnj izLrqr dh vkSj ftlds fy, izkfFkZuh dk dFku gS fd ;g vf/koDrk dh ,d ln~Hkkoh Hkwy gks ldrh gS fd vihy izLrqr djus dh vof/k 60 fnol gSA ijUrq izkfFkZ;k us vius bl dFku ds leFkZu esa fdlh vf/koDrk dk kiFk i= izLrqr ugha fd;k gSA ih-ds- jkepUnzu cuke LVsV vkWQ dsjy ¼lqijk½] esa ekuuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; us vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd;k gS& ``Law of limitation may harshly affect a particular party but it has to be applied with all its rigour when the statute so prescribe and the Courts have no power to extend the period of limitation on equitable grounds. The discretion exercised by the High Court was, thus, neither proper nor judicious. The order condoning the delay cannot be sustained. This appeal, therefore, succeeds and the Impugned order is set aside. The discretion exercised by the High Court was, thus, neither proper nor judicious. The order condoning the delay cannot be sustained. This appeal, therefore, succeeds and the Impugned order is set aside. Consequently, the application for condonation of delay filed in the High Court would stand rejected and the Miscellaneous First Appeal shall stand dismissed as barred by time. No costs. 9- ;g lgh gS fd ifjlhek vf/kfu;e ds fl)kUr mnkj rjhds ls dke esa fy;s tkus pkfg;s ijUrq bldk eryc ;g ugha gksrk fd dksbZ i{kdkj vius vf/kdkjksa ds izfr tkx:d jgs eqdnesa dks rQjhgu yM+s vkSj nwljs O;fDr ds gd esa iSnk gq, vf/kdkjksa dks guu djus dk ekSdk flQZ bl vk/kkj ij fn;k tk;s fd mls Kku ugha FkkA lkE;rk (equity) nksuksa i{kdkjksa ds chp r; djuk t:jh gksrk gSA ekuuh; jktLFkku mPp U;k;ky; us lqesj flag cuke eSllZ iq"ik eksVlZ o vU; ¼8½] esa ;g vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd;k gS& ``The law is well settled that the law helps vigilant and not the indolent. The law of limitation is thus founded on public policy to see that there should be redressal of legal injury suffered by a party but also to see that every legal remedy must be kept alive for a legislatively fixed period of time. Though the condonation of delay is a matter of discretion of the court but section 5 of the Limitation Act does not say that such discretion can be stretched too far so as to condone any length of time. There has to be rationale criterion as regards exception to the explanation seeking condonation of delay. In some cases, the delay of shortest range may be uncondonable due to a want of acceptable explanation whereas in certain other cases, delay of a very long range can be condoned provided the explanation thereof is satisfactory. The words ``sufficient cause under Section 5 of the Limitation Act should receive a liberal construction so as to advance substantial justice, but it does not mean to infer that the delay should condoned in each and every case unless discretion exercised by the court is on untenable grounds or is arbitrary or perverse and in that eventuality, it would be a different matter. While condoning the delay in such cases, the Apex Court has further taken the view that the Court should not forget valuable rights which have accrued to the opposite party altogether. While condoning the delay in such cases, the Apex Court has further taken the view that the Court should not forget valuable rights which have accrued to the opposite party altogether. It must be borne in mind that he too is a looser if the delay is condoned whereas he would have incurred huge litigation expenses. 10- eSa jsdkMZ ij lkfcr rF;ksa o mPpre U;k;ky;] jktLFkku mPp U;k;ky; ds mijksDr fu.kZ;ksa ds vk/kkj ij bl fu.kZ; ij igqapk gwa fd U;k;ky; vfrfjDr vk;qDr mifuosku ,oa jktLo vihy izkf/kdkjh] bfUnjk xka/kh ugj ifj;kstuk] chdkusj us muds fu.kZ; fnukad 7-5-1999 esa vihy dks vUnj ifjlhek e;kn ugha ekuus esa rkfRod vfu;ferrk ugha dhA tc rd izkfFkZuh v/khuLFk vihy U;k;ky; }kjk dh xbZ dk;Zokgh o vihy dks ifjlhek ds ckgj ekurs gq, [kkfjt fd;s tkus ds lEcU/k esa dksbZ [k.MukRed lk{; izLrqr ugha dj nsrh] rc rd v/khuLFk vihy U;k;ky; ds fu.kZ; ds izfr lR; dh vo/kkj.kk curh gSA v/khuLFk vihy U;k;ky; us vius vf/kdkj&{ks= esa jgrs gq, vius fof/kd vf/kdkjksa dk mi;ksx djrs gq, fu.kZ; ikfjr fd;k gS ftlesa fdlh izdkj ds gLr{ksi dh vko;drk izrhr ugha gksrhA nsjh dks {ke djus ds flok; esa og O;fDr tks {kek pkg jgk gS mldk vkpj.k izklafxd gS vkSj ;fn mlds }kjk >wBh nyhy nh tkrh gS rks nsjh dks {kek dj ,sls O;fDr dks ifjlhek ls ihNk NqM+kus ds fy, c<+kok ugha nsuk pkfg;sA 11- ifj.kker% fuxjkuh [kkfjt dh tkrh gSA 12- fu.kZ; [kqys U;k;ky; esa lquk;k x;kA