IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE THOMAS P.JOSEPH MONDAY, THE 30TH NOVEMBER 2009 / 9TH AGRAHAYANA 1931 RSA.NO. 615 OF 2009() ---------------------------------- AS.336/2007 OF I ADDL. DISTRICT COURT, PALAKKAD OS.102/2001 OF ADDL.SUB COURT, PALAKKAD .................... APPELLANT – APPELLANT - PLAINTIFF: ---------------------------------------------------- MRS. K.MARAGATHAMBAL, W/O. SURESH KUMAR, DOORO NO.51/103, NORTH KAMBAM STREEET, SIRUMUGAI, METTUPALAYAM TALUK, COIMBATORE DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.P.R.VENKETESH RESPONDENT(S) – RESPONDENT - DEFENDANT: ----------------------------------------------------------------- MRS. PADMAVATHI, KANDASAMY CHETTIAR DOOR NO.9/35, GOVINDAPURAM, MUVALAGANPUDUR, PALAKKAD. THIS REGULAR SECOND APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 30/11/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: THOMAS P.JOSEPH, J. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = R.S.A. NO. 615 of 2009 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Dated this the 30th day of November, 2009 J U D G M E N T ---------------------- The Second Appeal arises from the dismissal of A.S. No.336 of 2007 by the court of learned District Judge, Palakkad consequent to the dismissal of I.A. No.1687 of 2007, application to condone the delay of 1191 days. There was an agreement for sale between appellant and respondent which did not go through as the appellant expected. She thereon instituted O.S. No.102 of 2001 for specific performance of that agreement for sale. Respondent contended that there was no such agreement for sale and that it was only a money transaction. Trial court dispelling the contention of respondent found that there was an agreement for sale but granted only a decree for recovery of the advance amount with interest. Respondent challenged that judgment and decree in A.S. No.213 of 2004. It is not disputed that appellant was given notice of that appeal and after hearing both sides learned District Judge, Palakkad dismissed that appeal as per judgment dated 29.9.2007. Much thereafter appellant/plaintiff filed A.S. No.336 of 2007 in the same court challenging the judgment and decree of the trial court to the extent it refused to grant specific performance in favour of the appellant. That R.S.A. NO.615 of 2009 -: 2 :- appeal was filed after 1191 days of the prescribed time. Interlocutory Application No. 1687 of 2001 was filed to condone the delay in filing the appeal. Learned District Judge after considering the objection raised by the respondent found that the delay is not properly explained and dismissed the same. Consequently, A.S. No.336 of 2007 was also dismissed. Hence this Second Appeal urging by way of substantial question of law whether first appellate court was justified in dismissing the delay petition when there was sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal in time? It is contended by learned counsel for appellant that on the facts and circumstances of the case first appellate court ought to have condoned the delay and taken the appeal on file. Reason stated for the delay of 1191 days is that on getting notice of the appeal (A.S. No.213 of 2004 preferred by respondent) appellant had instructed her counsel to file Cross Objection but after the dismissal of A.S. No.213 of 2004 on her conducting enquiry she learnt that no Cross Objection had been preferred. Delay involved in the case is 1191 days. It is true that while considering whether sufficient cause occurring in Section 5 of the Limitation Act courts are required to follow a liberal approach. It has to be borne in mind that law of limitation is a Statute of repose and peace and that even when R.S.A. NO.615 of 2009 -: 3 :- sufficient cause is shown, discretionary power vests in the courts to condone the delay or not. Before a party can claim indulgence under Section 5 of the Act apart from proving sufficient cause he should also show that he was diligent in prosecuting the proceeding. Object of law of limitation is to prevent disturbance or deprivation of what may have been acquired in equity and justice by long enjoyment or what may have been lost by party's own inaction or laches. It has been held in R.B. Policies at Lloyd's v. Butler ([1949] 2 All England Report 226) quoting from Best, C.J., in A court v. Cross - 3 Brng 332) that “long dormant claims have often more of cruelty than of justice in them”. Here is a case where with notice to appellant A.S. No.213 of 2004 was prosecuted by the respondent challenging that part of the decree which directed him to return the advance amount with interest. That, appellant had notice of the appeal is admitted by her also, explanation for delay that she had been instructed counsel to file Cross Objection but sometime before filing A.S. No.336 of 2007. She learnt that such Cross Objection has not been filed. It is difficult to believe the explanation of the appellant. Delay involved is 1191 days. Therefore first appellate court cannot be said to have committed fault in holding that delay is not properly explained. At any rate, it is not R.S.A. NO.615 of 2009 -: 4 :- shown that appellant was diligent in prosecuting the proceedings so that even if it is assumed that delay is properly explained court should exercise its discretion in favour of the appellant. There is also another difficulty which the appellant has to face which objects on the maintainability of the appeal. In the light of the above finding I do not find that substantial question of law is involved in the matter so that Second Appeal is to be admitted and notice has to be issued to respondent. Second Appeal is dismissed in limine. THOMAS P.JOSEPH, JUDGE. vsv R.S.A. NO.615 of 2009 -: 5 :- THOMAS P.JOSEPH, J. =================== R.S.A. NO. =================== J U D G M E N T NOVEMBER, 2009 R.S.A. NO.615 of 2009 -: 6 :-