FAO No.4398 of 2008(O&M) [ 1 ] IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH ... FAO No.4398 of 2008(O&M) Decided on : September 09, 2009 Surinder Singh ... Appellant VERSUS Kako Devi and others ... Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE A.N.JINDAL Present: Mr.U.K.Agnihotri, Advocate for the appellant. Ms.Shamsher Kaur, Advocate for the respondent - Oriental Insurance Company. A.N.JINDAL, J.- The claimant – appellant (herein referred as the claimant) has prayed for enhancement of compensation by filing the instant appeal, challenging the award dated24.8.2007 passed by Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Ambala, awarding a compensation to the tune of Rs.70,000/- on account of the injuries suffered by him in a motor vehicle accident. The appeal having been filed after the prescribed period, is accompanied by an application for condonation of delay of 222 days. Heard. The only plea put forth for the condonation of such a long delay is that the appellant is minor, dependent upon the mercy of others and FAO No.4398 of 2008(O&M) [ 2 ] is also unaware about the technicalities of law. The claim petition was filed by the claimant through his father and he was represented through a counsel. It is a settled law that ignorance of law cannot be a defence. In case P.K.Ramachandran vs. State of Kerala and another, AIR 1998 SC 2276, the Apex Court has specifically observed that delay could not be condoned unless there is reasonable and satisfactory explanation for the same. Even otherwise, the claimant suffered 20% physical disability on account of partial stiffness of right knee joint and right ankle joint. However, there is no permanent disability. In the circumstances, the compensation of Rs.70,000/- awarded by the Tribunal appears to be adequate. Thus, the application for condonation of delay as also the appeal are dismissed. September 09, 2009 ( A.N.JINDAL ) `gian' JUDGE