There was a delay of 94 days in filing the Appeal, which was over and above the period of 30 days, which is statutorily given to an aggrieved party to file the Appeal.  The only explanation given was that the file was moving from table to table to get the permission to file the appeal.  Under the Consumer Protection Act, the District Forum is supposed to decide the complaint within a period of 90 days from the date of filing and, in case, some expert evidence is required to be led, then within 150 days. 

Where the statute has permitted only 30 days for filing the Appeal, delay three times over the statutory period given for filing the Appeal, could not be condoned until and unless some sufficient cause is shown.  Supreme Court, in a recent judgment, Anshul Aggarwal vs. New Okhla Industrial Development Authority – IV(2011)CPJ 63 (SC) has held that while deciding the application filed for condonation of delay, the Court has to keep in mind that the special period of limitation has been prescribed under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 for filing appeals and revisions in consumer matters and the object of expeditious adjudication of the consumer disputes will get defeated if the appeals and revisions which are highly belated are entertained.  Relevant observations are as under:

“It is also apposite to observe that while deciding an application filed in such cases for condonation of delay, the Court has to keep in mind that the special period of limitation has been prescribed under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 for filing appeals and revisions in consumer matters and the object of expeditious adjudication of the consumer disputes will get defeated if this court was to entertain highly belated petitions filed against the orders of the consumer foras.”

        We agree with the view taken by the State Commission that sufficient grounds were not made out for condoning the delay of 44 days.  Dismissed.