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Appeal (civil) 4951 of 2001 PETITIONER:
SOUTH EASTERN COALFIELDS LTD RESPONDENT:
NATTHU LAL DATE OF JUDGMENT: 12/02/2008 BENCH:
TARUN CHATTERJEE & H.S.BEDI JUDGMENT:
JUDGMENT O R D E R CIVIL APPEAL NO.4951 OF 2001 In spite of due service on the respondent, no one has entered appearance on his beha lf.
adhya This appeal is directed against an order dt.16.10.2000 passed by the High Court of M Pradesh, Jabalpur in M.A.No.2049 of 2000 by which the application for condonation of delay o f 35 days in filing the appeal was rejected.
Having heard the learned counsel for the appellant and after going through the appli cation for condonation of delay as also the materials on record, we are of the view that the Divisi on Bench of the High Court was not justified in rejecting the application for condonation of delay of 35 days in filing the appeal as we are of the view that the statements made in the application do co nstitute sufficient cause for condonation of delay in filing the appeal. Accordingly, we set aside t he impugned order and allow the application for condonation of delay in filing the appeal.
We, however, request the High Court to decide the appeal on merits and in acc ordance with law at an early date and preferably within a period of three months from the date of communi cation of this Order. The appeal is allowed to the extent indicated above.
There shall be no order as to costs.