RFA No. 1215 of 2011 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH RFA No. 1215 of 2011(O&M) Date of Decision : 27.07.2011 Suraj Mal and others ....Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ....Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAKESH KUMAR GARG 1. Whether reporters of local news papers may be allowed to see judgment ? 2. To be referred to reporters or not ? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest ? *** Present: Mr. Sushil Jain, Advocate for the appellants. * * * RAKESH KUMAR GARG, J (ORAL) C.M.No.3047-CI of 2011 Application is allowed subject to all just exceptions and the applicants as mentioned in Para No.3 of this application are permitted to be brought on record as legal representatives of Rajbir Singh s/o Sh. Suraj Mal, who died on 9.11.2008, for the purpose of pursuing this appeal. C.M. No.3046-CI of 2011 For the reasons mentioned in the application for condonation of delay of 92 days in re-filing the appeal is condoned. C.M.No.3048-CI of 2011 This is claimant's appeal challenging the impugned award on RFA No. 1215 of 2011 2 the ground that the compensation awarded by the reference Court is inadequate. This appeal has been filed beyond the period of limitation. There is a delay of 590 days in filing this appeal. The averments made in support of this application reads as follows:- That the claimants/appellants had filed reference under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act and the Ld. Additional District Judge, Sonepat awarded Rs.3.20 lacs per acre vide award dated 6.11.2007. The reference petitions of the claimants/appellants were decided by a common order wherein number of references have been decided. That the claimants/appellants being villagers having no knowledge about the future course of action i.e the appeal to be filed before the Hon'ble High Court and they being in presumption that the award passed by Ld.Addl.District Judge is final did not file any appeal well within the period of limitation. That the appellants now came to know that the other co-villagers or the similarly situated persons in the award dated 6.11.2007 by which the reference petition of appellant was decided along with the persons had filed appeals and the same is being pending in the Hon'ble High Court. When the appellant came to know of this fact then he immediately contacted his counsel and the present appeal was prepared. That the delay in filing the appeal is neither intentional nor willful but due to reasons explained above. It is a fit case where this Hon'ble Court can exercise the powers and condone the delay in the interest of justice. A perusal of the aforesaid averments would show that the condonation of delay has been sought on the ground of ignorance of law. It is well settled that ignorance of law is no excuse. Thus the explanations submitted by the appellant is no ground to condone the delay. Resultantly, this application for condoning the delay is dismissed. RFA No. 1215 of 2011 3 RFA No. 1215 of 2011 Since the application for condonation of delay has been rejected. The appeal is also ordered to be dismissed being time barred. 27.7.2011 (Rakesh Kumar Garg) savita Judge