Jheky] lnL;—;g f}rh; vihy jktLFkku dkrdkjh vf/kfu;e] 1955 ¼ftls rRipkr~ la{ksi esa ^vf/kfu;e 1955* dgk tkosxk½ dh /kkjk 224 ds vUrxZr vfrfjä vk;qä mifuosku ,oa jktLo vihy Ákf/kdkjh] bafnjk xka/kh ugj ifj;kstuk] chdkusj ds fu.kZ; fnukad 28-10-2004 ds fo:) ÁLrqr dh xbZ gSA 2- la{ksi esa Ádj.k ds rF; bl Ádkj gS fd vihykFkhZ@oknhx.k us xzke j.kthriqjk esa fLFkr vkjkth jdck 40 ch?kk 10 fcLok ds laca/k esa ,d jktLo okn lgk;d mifuosku vk;qä ¼ÁFke½ chdkusj ds U;k;ky; esa ÁLrqr dj dgk fd mijksä of.kZr Hkwfe iq[rk lsVyesaV ds le; xSj [kkrsnkjh ds :i esa vihykFkhZ ds uke ntZ dh xbZA ysfdu mi;qZä of.kZr Hkwfe dCtk dkr ds vuqlkj ntZ ugha dh tkdj fcuk dCtk dkr dh Hkwfe ntZ dj nh xbZA vihykFkhZx.k ds firk vkbZnku ds uke ls iq[rk lsVyesaV esa [kluk ua- 1517 ntZ gqvk tcfd ekSds ij mudk dCtk dkr [kljk ua- 1732] 1734] 1746 dh 41 ch?kk Hkwfe ij jgk] ftlds pd 14 vkj-Mh-okbZ- ds eqjOok ua- 160@13] 14] 15] 21] 22] 23 cus gSa lEor~ 2034 esa mä jdcs ij jsLiks.Ms.V ua- 1 ikcwjke ds firk tsBkjke dk uke ntZ gks x;k tcfd dCtk dkr fooknkxzLr Hkwfe ij vihykFkhZx.k dk gh jgkA Ákklfud dk;Zokgh esa vfHkys[k esa nqjLrh ugha dh xbZ] bl dkj.k vihykFkhZx.k dks fopkj.k U;k;ky; esa nkok ÁLrqr djuk iM+kA uksfVl rkehy gksus ds ipkr~ ÁR;FkhZ la- 2 Áfroknh jkT; ljdkj dh vksj ls mifuosku rglhynkj us tokc ÁLrqr dj okn i= esa fy[ks rF;ksa ls bUdkj fd;k vkSj dgk fd flapkbZ foHkkx ls pd Iyku ÁkIr gksus ij oknhx.k us vPNh Hkwfe nskdj xSj dkuwuh :i ls xzke j.kthriqjk esa [kljk ua- 806 dks NksM+dj [kljk ua- 1732] 1734] 1746 ls cus eqjOok ds laca/k esa nkok ÁLrqr fd;kA bl dkj.k vihykFkhZx.k dk nkok ÁFke n`"V;k gh xyr gSA mUgksaus lHkh fgrc) O;fä;ksa dks i{kdkj ugha cuk;k] vr% vihykFkhZx.k dk okn [kkfjt djus dk fuosnu fd;kA i{kdkjksa ds vfHkopuksa ds vk/kkj ij nknjlh lfgr dqy 4 rufd;ka dk;e dhA vihykFkhZx.k o ÁR;FkhZx.k us viuh-viuh kgknr ÁLrqr dh ,oa i{kdkjksa dks lquus ds ipkr~ fopkj.k U;k;ky; us muds fu.kZ; fnukad 31-7-2003 }kjk oknh dk okn [kkfjt dj fn;kA mä fu.kZ; ,oa fMØh ls vlarq"V gksdj vihykFkhZx.k@oknhx.k us ÁFke vihy vfrfjä vk;qä ¼mifuosku½ ,oa jktLo vihy Ákf/kdkjh bafnjk xka/kh ugj ifj;kstuk] chdkusj ds le{k vihy la- 248@2003 isk dhA vihy ds lkFk vihykFkhZx.k us ifjlhek vf/kfu;e] 1963 dh /kkjk 5 dk ÁkFkZuk i= Hkh ÁLrqr fd;kA i{kdkjksa dks lquus ds ipkr~ v/khuLFk vihyh; U;k;ky; us muds fu.kZ; fnukad 28-10-2004 }kjk vihy isk djus esa tks nsjh gqbZ] ml nsjh dks {kek djrs gq, vihy dks vUnj fe;kn ÁLrqr gksuk kqekj ekudj xq.kkxq.k ds vk/kkj ij vihy fujLr dj nhA mä fu.kZ; o fMØh ls vÁlUu gksdj vihykFkhZx.k us ;s f}rh; vihy jktLo e.My jktLFkku] vtesj esa ÁLrqr dhA f}rh; vihy ds lkFk vihykFkhZx.k us ifjlhek vf/kfu;e] 1963 dh /kkjk 5 dk ÁkFkukZ i= e; kiFk i= isk fd;kA jktLo e.My ds dk;kZy; dh fjiksVZ ds vuqlkj Áuxr f}rh; vihy tks vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 224 ds vUrxZr ÁLrqr dh xbZ gS og ifjlhek vof/k ds ckgj ÁLrqr dh xbZ gSA 3- geusa vihykFkhZx.k ds fo}ku vf/koäk ,oa vfrfjä jktdh; vf/koäk dks f}rh; vihy dks Jo.kkFkZ xzg.k fd;s tkus ds Lrj ij lqukA 4- vihykFkhZx.k ds fo}ku vf/koäk dk dFku gS fd ifjlhek vf/kfu;e dk mís; gS fd mls mnkjrk ds :i esa dke esa fy;k tkosa o i{kdkjksa dks muds gd ls oafpr u fd;k tkosaA fu.kZ; ,oa fMØh fnukad 28-10-2004 dh lwpuk vihykFkhZx.k dks muds vf/koäk ls ugha nhA vihykFkhZx.k ds vf/koäk mudh vksj ls v/khuLFk U;k;ky; esa iSjoh dj jgs FksA fnukad 1-10-2005 dks vihykFkhZ prjkjke chdkusj x;k vkSj vius vf/koäk Jh lqjsk dqekj kekZ ls eqdnes ds ckjs esa tkudkjh pkgh rks mls ekywe iM+k fd mlds eqdnes esa fnukad 28-10-2004 dks gh QSlyk gks x;kA vihykFkhZx.k us tc muds }kjk fu;qä vf/koäk ls tkudkjh ÁkIr djuk pkgh fd mlus mUgsa eqdnes ds fu.kZ; dh le; ij lwpuk D;ksa ugha nh rks mlus dksbZ larks"ktud mÙkj ugha fn;kA vihykFkhZx.k us nwljk vf/koäk fu;qä dj fu.kZ; o fMØh dh Áekf.kr Áfrfyfi;ka fnukad 3-10-2005 dks ÁkIr dhA fnukad 4-10- 2005 ls 11 -10-2005 rd vihykFkhZx.k uojkf= o nqxkZiwtk esa O;Lr jgs vkSj xkao dks NksM+dj ckgj ugha x,A ipkr~ vihykFkhZx.k vtesj vk, vkSj viuh vksj ls vf/koäk fu;qä fd;k] ftUgksaus ekuuh; jktLo e.My esa fnukad 14-10-2005 dks vihy ÁLrqr dhA tkudkjh dh fnukad ls vihy vUnj fe;kn gS] vr% fe;kn ds laca/k esa tks ÁkFkZuk i= ÁLrqr fd;k x;k gS] mls Lohdkj fd;k tkosa vkSj vihy dk fuLrkj.k xq.kkxq.k ds vk/kkj ij fd;k tkosaA vius mijksä dFku ds leFkZu esa mUgksaus ,-vkbZ-vkj- 1987 ist 1353] ,-vkbZ-vkj- 1981 ,l-lh- ist 1400 ,oa vkj-vkj-Mh- 1998 i`"B 319 U;kf;d n`"VkUrksa dk lgkjk fy;kA 5- vfrfjä jktdh; vf/koäk dk dFku gS fd vihykFkhZx.k }kjk ÁLrqr vihy ifjlhek ds ckgj gSa] foyEc dks {kek fd, tkus ds fy, dksbZ mfpr dkj.k ugha crk, x, gSA fu.kZ; fnukad 28-10-2004 vihykFkhZx.k ds vf/koäk dh mifLFkfr esa ikfjr fd;k x;k Fkk vkSj vf/koäk dh tkudkjh gh muds eqofDdy dh tkudkjh ekuh tkrh gSA mUgksaus vius dFku ds leFkZu esa vkj-vkj-Mh- 1993 ist 90] ,-vkbZ-vkj- 1998 ,l-lh- ist 2276 U;kf;d n`"VkUrksa dk lgkjk fy;kA 6- geus mHk; i{k ds fo}ku vfHkoäkx.k dh cgl ij euu fd;k o muds }kjk ÁLrqr U;kf;d n`"VkUrksa dk voyksdu fd;kA tgka rd ifjlhek vf/kfu;e] 1963 dh /kkjk 5 ds ÁkFkZuk i= esa of.kZr vk/kkjksa ij foyEc dks {kek djus dk Áu gS] vihykFkhZx.k us fu.kZ; fnukad 28-10-2004 ds fo:) f}rh; vihy jktLo e.My jktLFkku] vtesj esa fnukad 14-10-2005 dks isk dhA ;g ekuus ds fy, vfHkys[k ij i;kZIr dkj.k ugha gS fd v/khuLFk vihyh; U;k;ky; ds vf/koäk us vihykFkhZx.k dks mijksä fu.kZ; dh lwpuk ugha nh o u gh vihykFkhZx.k }kjk ÁFke vihyh; U;k;ky; esa muds }kjk fu;qä vf/koäk dk vFkok mlds eqakh dk kiFk i= isk fd;k x;k gSA vihykFkhZ us vius kiFk i= esa bl Ádkj dk dksbZ mYys[k ugha fd;k gS fd fdl jkst muds vf/koäk us vihykFkhZ dks dgk fd mls gj iskh ij U;k;ky; esa vkus dh vko;drk ugha gSA tc mls U;k;ky; ds le{k mifLFkr gksus dh vko;drk gksxh rc mls lwfpr dj cqyk fy;k tkosxk rFkk og vihy isk dj fufpr gks x;kA Jherh eerknsoh cuke~ mn;flag 2001¼1½ MCY;w-,y-,u- 720 esa ekuuh; jktLFkku mPp U;k;ky; us ,slh nyhy dks ugha ekuk gSA ;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 ij lksrk jgs] eqdnes dks rQjh;u yM+s vkSj nwljs O;fä ds gd esa iSnk gq;s vf/kdkjksa dks guu djus dk ekSdk flQZ bl vk/kkj ij fn;k tk; fd mls fu.kZ; dk Kku ugha FkkA bfDoVh dks 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; vkj-,y-vkj- 2000¼2½ i`"B 258 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 Sec. 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" u/S. 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. 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." 7- geusa vihykFkhZx.k }kjk ÁLrqr ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; }kjk jQhd ,.M vuknj cuke~ eqakhyky ,.M vuknj ,-vkbZ-vkj- 1981 ,l-lh- 1400 U;kf;d n`"VkUr dk voyksdu fd;k] ftlesa ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; us vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd;k gS ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; us jQhd ,.M vuknj cuke~ eqakh yky ,.M vuknj] ,-vkbZ-vkj- 1981 ,l-lh- 1400 esa ;g Áfrikfnr fd;k gS fd& "The disturbing feature of the cause is that under our present adversary legal system where the parties generally appear through their Advocates, the obligation of the parties is to select his Advocate, brief him, pay the fees demanded by him and then trust the learned Advocate to do the rest of the things. The party may be a villager or may belong to a rural area and may have no knowledge of the Courts procedure. The party may be a villager or may belong to a rural area and may have no knowledge of the Courts procedure. After engaging a lawyer, the party may remain supremely confident that the lawyer will look after his interest. At the time of the hearing of the appeal, the personal appearance of the party is not only not required but hardly useful. Therefore, the party having done everything in his power to effectively participate in the proceedings can rest assured that he has neither to go to the High Court to enquire as to what is happening in the High Court with regard to his counsel nor is he to act as a watchdog of the Advocate that the latter appears in the matter when it is listed." ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; us ;g Hkh crk;k gS fd & "The problem that agitates us is whether it is proper that the party should suffer for the inaction, deliberate omission or misdemeanour of his agent. The answer obviously is in the negative. May be that the learned Advocate absented himself deliberately or intentionally. We have no material for ascertaining that aspect of the matter. We say nothing more on that aspect of the matter. However, we cannot be a party to an innocent party suffering injustice merely because his chosen Advocate defaulted." fu.kZ; fnukad 28-10-2004 dks ns[kus ls lkQ tkfgj gksrk gS fd mlesa vihykFkhZx.k ds fo}ku vf/koäk dh mifLFkfr ntZ gSA bl dkj.k vihykFkhZx.k }kjk ÁLrqr mi;qZä of.kZr jQhe okyk U;kf;d n`"Vkar ykxw ugha gksrkA 8- ge vihykFkhZ ds fo}ku vf/koäk dh bl nyhy ls Hkh lger ugha gS fd vihy dks xq.kkxq.k ij fujLr djus ls iwoZ xq.kkxq.k ij Hkh lquk tkuk vko;d gSA ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; us jkedyh nsoh ¼Jherh½ cuke~ eSustj iatkc uskuy cSad] kkgckn o vU; ts-Vh- 1998¼8½ ,l-lh- 529 esa ;g vfHkfyf[kr fd;k x;k gS fd& "Constitution — Art. 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. 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." 9- v/khuLFk vihyh; U;k;ky; }kjk fu.kZ; fnukad 28-10-2004 dks lquk;k x;kA fu.kZ; dh fnukad ls gh ifjlhek ÁkjEHk gks tkrh gSA f}rh; vihy isk djus dh le;kof/k xqtj tkus ds ckn fu.kZ; dh Áekf.kr Áfrfyfi gsrq vkosnu i= fnukad 1-10-2005 dks ÁLrqr fd;k x;k vihykFkhZx.k }kjk ÁkIr dj yh xbZA jktLo e.My esa f}rh; vihy fnukad 14-10-2005 dks ÁLrqr dh xbZA vihy dks le;kof/k esa nk;j u djuk ,d ?kksj ykijokgh gS] ftlds dkj.k nwljs i{kdkj dks mlds gd ls oafpr djuk U;k; laxr ugha ekuk tk ldrkA ifjlhek vof/k dh /kkjk 5 dk Qk;nk nsus ls igys U;k;ky; ds fy, ;g vko;d gS fd og vihy isk djus esa tks nsjh gqbZ gS] mldk Li"Vhdj.k lgh o fookl ;ksX; gS] ml ij viuk er vfHkO;ä djsA ih-ds- jkepUnzu fo:) dsjyk jkT; ,-vkbZ-vkj- 1998 ,l-lh- ist 2276 esa ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; us fuEufyf[kr fu.kZ; Ánku fd;k& "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. 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." 10- vihykFkhZx.k us jktLo e.My esa vihy nsjh ls isk djus ds fy, vius ÁkFkZuk i= esa ,sls rkfRod rF; ugha fn,] ftUgsa fd ^i;kZIr gsrqd* dgk tk ldsA mi;qZä fopkj foekZ ds ifj.kkeLo:i ifjlhek vf/kfu;e] 1963 dh /kkjk 5 ds v/khu ÁLrqr ÁkFkZuk i= esa xq.koÙkk dh deh gksus ds dkj.k [kkfjt fd;k tkrk gSA vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 224 ds vUrxZr ÁLrqr dh xbZ f}rh; vihy dks le;ckf/kr ekudj xzkg~;rk ds Lrj ij [kkfjt dh tkrh gSA 11- fu.kZ; [kqys U;k;ky; esa lquk;k x;kA