Case: International Airports Authority of India Vs. M.L. Dalmia Company Limited

R.C. LAHOTI, J. (1) Leave granted.(2) This is an appeal by special leave filed against the order of the High Court whereby the High Court refused to restore the appeal filed before it by the appellant, which was dismissed in default of appearance of the appellant and his counsel on 10.7.2001 (3) It appears that disputes and differences arising out of the contract entered into between the parties led to arbitration proceedingsAn award was given which was made a rule of the court by a learned single judge of High CourtFeeling aggrieved by the decree so passed, the appellant preferred a letters patent appealOn 19.12.1994, while issuing notice in the appeal, the High Court directed following interim order to be passed: "Notice for 31.1.1995, subject to the condition that the appellant deposits in court, the rupees, equivalent to the dollar value on the date of termination of the contractSo far as the withdrawal of the money, so deposited is concerned, half will be permitted to be withdrawn without security and the other half on furnishing bank guaranteeThis order is without prejudice to any contentions that may be raised by the respondent in the matter, after notice". (4) On 6.7.1999 and 18.7.2000, twice the appeal was dismissed in default of appearance, but allowed to be restoredOn 19.12.2000, the date appointed for hearing, there was no appearance for the appellantAgain there was default of appearance on 10.7.2001 and on this day the division bench directed the appeal to be dismissedThough restoration was applied for but taking the totality of the facts of the case, specially the conduct of the appellant suffering dismissal in default thrice, the High Court refused to show any indulgence to the appellant(5) Having perused the contents of the application for restoration supported by affidavit, we find that the appellant did try to explain the absence on 10.7.2001 but the explanation so offered did not appeal as plausible to the High Court, specially in view of the earlier conduct of the appellant which weighed heavily with the High Court resulting in denial of indulgence being shown to the appellantLooking at the stakes involved and keeping in view the weighty consideration that so far as practicable, a litigant ought not to be denied a hearing on merits, we are inclined, in the facts and circumstances of this case, to allow the appellant one more opportunity of hearing in the appeal on merits by restoring the same on the file of the High Court, but subject to terms.

Decision:
1[ds](5) Having perused the contents of the application for restoration supported by affidavit, we find that the appellant did try to explain the absence on 10.7.2001 but the explanation so offered did not appeal as plausible to the High Court, specially in view of the earlier conduct of the appellant which weighed heavily with the High Court resulting in denial of indulgence being shown to the appellantLooking at the stakes involved and keeping in view the weighty consideration that so far as practicable, a litigant ought not to be denied a hearing on merits, we are inclined, in the facts and circumstances of this case, to allow the appellant one more opportunity of hearing in the appeal on merits by restoring the same on the file of the High Court, but subject to terms.