1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPLICATION NO.5702 OF 2008 IN FIRST APPEAL (ST) NO.8837 OF 2008 The State of Maharashtra and Anr. .....Applicants V/s. Rajaram Vitthal Bhalerao ..... Respondent WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO.5704 OF 2008 IN FIRST APPEAL (ST) NO.8842 OF 2008 The State of Maharashtra and Anr. .....Applicants V/s. Shivaji Kachru Bhalerao and Anr. ..... Respondents WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO.5706 OF 2008 IN FIRST APPEAL (ST) NO.8850 OF 2008 The State of Maharashtra and Anr. .....Applicants V/s. Vinayak Waman Bhalerao and Anr. ..... Respondents WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO.5708 OF 2008 IN FIRST APPEAL (ST) NO.8856 OF 2008 The State of Maharashtra and Anr. .....Applicants V/s. Bhiku Bapu Thube, (Deceased) through Legal Heirs Rajaram Bhiku Thube and Ors. ..... Respondents WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO.5710 OF 2008 2 IN FIRST APPEAL (ST) NO.8861 OF 2008 The State of Maharashtra and Anr. .....Applicants V/s. Ramesh Rajaram Bhalerao ..... Respondent WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO.5712 OF 2008 IN FIRST APPEAL (ST) NO.8868 OF 2008 The State of Maharashtra and Anr. .....Applicants V/s. Ashok Madhavrao Bhalerao and Anr. ..... Respondents WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO.5714 OF 2008 IN FIRST APPEAL (ST) NO.8877 OF 2008 The State of Maharashtra and Anr. .....Applicants V/s. Vasantrao Kaniram Sonawane ..... Respondent WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO.5716 OF 2008 IN FIRST APPEAL (ST) NO.8882 OF 2008 The State of Maharashtra and Anr. .....Applicants V/s. Sindhubai Ashokrao Bhalerao and Anr. ..... Respondents WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO.5718 OF 2008 IN FIRST APPEAL (ST) NO.8886 OF 2008 The State of Maharashtra and Anr. .....Applicants V/s. 3 Ramesh Yashwant Bhalerao and Anr. ..... Respondents Smt.Geeta Mulekar, A.G.P., for the applicants. Mr.P.N.Joshi, for the respondents. CORAM :P.B.MAJMUDAR & R.V.MORE, JJ. DATE : JULY 29, 2009 P.C. 1. Mr.P.N.Joshi states that he is appearing for respondents/original claimants in all the Civil Applications. 2. This is an application for condonation of delay in filing the respective First Appeals. The learned A.G.P., for the State submitted that the delay is about 80 to 83 days in the respective First Appeals. The reason given for such delay is that the District Government Pleader’s office submitted his report after one month after going through the judgment of the Trial Court and thereafter, about two months were taken by the Law and Judiciary Department and ultimately it was decided to file appeal. The learned A.G.P., submitted that since the group of matters are involved, some time was taken by the concerned department. 3. The learned Advocate appearing for the respondents, submitted that the grounds given for condonation of delay are not sufficient. 4. In our view, considering the facts and circumstances of the 4 case and considering the fact that the delay is occurred because of administrative reasons and instead of throwing away the group of appeals on the ground of delay, it would be desirable that the real issue is required to be considered on merits. Considering the aforesaid aspects, the delay in filing the respective First Appeals is condoned. Civil Applications are allowed with no order as to costs. 5. First Appeals to be placed for admissions, in case there is no office objections in this behalf. ( R.V.MORE, J. ) (P.B.MAJMUDAR, J.)