Sharafat
Hussain & Ors Vs. Mohd. Shafiq & Ors [1996] INSC 1057 (2 September 1996)
Ramaswamy,
K. Ramaswamy, K.G.B. Pattanaik (J)
ACT:
HEAD NOTE:
O R D
E R
Leave
granted.
We Have
heard learned counsel on both sides.
This
appeal by special leave arises from the order of the High Court of Delhi made
on July 25, 1995 in CMP No.534/92 wherein it was
held that the appeal had abated and consequently the same was dismissed.
It is
not necessary to dilate upon the facts on merits.
Suffice
it to state that pending first appeal in the High Court, the sole appellant
died on December 1,
1990.
Intimation
of death was given by the counsel for the respondents on August 5, 1991, but the application could not be
filed due to the delay on the part of the counsel for the deceased-appellant as
sworn in by him in his affidavit.
Consequently,
the appeal having abated was dismissed on November 18, 1991. Then an application came to be
filed on May 4, 1992 seeking setting aside of the
abatement, condonation of the delay in filing the application and to bring the
legal representatives of the sole appellant on record. That application came to
be dismissed for failure to give proper explanation. Thus, this appeal by
special leave.
The
advocate for the deceased-appellant has stated in his affidavit thus:
"As
I did not have with me the address of the legal heirs of the appellants even as
they lived in the same house where the deceased resided in Phatak Habash Khan,
I could not contact or communicate to them that they had to file an application
for substitution of heirs within the stipulated time.
It was
only on 4.5.1992 that Shri Mazahar Hussain, one of the legal representatives of
tha deceased, chanced to meet me in Khari Baoli that informed him of the appeal
having been field by his late father of which he expressed total ignorance and
its abatement." Consequently, the application came to be filed on May 4, 1992. In view of the statement of the counsel for the
deceased-sole appellant that the delay had occurred since he could not
communicate to the legal representatives of the information issued by the
respondents of the death and that the legal representatives obviously were not
aware of the appeal in filed by their father; that resulted in abatement for
not bringing the legal representatives on record.
The
appeal is allowed. Delay is condoned. Abatement is set aside. Decay in bringing
the legal representatives on record is condoned. The legal representatives are
brought on record. The High court is requested to dispose of the appeal as expeditiously
as possible. No costs.
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