UNION OF INDIA Vs. BHARAT BIOTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) I.A. 13334/2019 (delay of 50 days in re-filing) in O.M.P. (COMM) 399/2019

(2.) Although all the three applications are based on identical facts, the delay in question is slightly different. The delay of which condonation is sought is 50 days each in O.M.P. (COMM) 399/2019 and O.M.P. (COMM) 408/2019, while it is 55 days in O.M.P. (COMM) 407/2019.

(3.) In each of these petitions, condonation of delay in re-filing is sought primarily on the ground that a duly signed petition along with the affidavit, the statement of truth and Vakalatnama was filed on 31.05.2019 before the statutory period of limitation of 90 days as prescribed under Section 34(3) of the Act had expired. On the other hand, the respondents have vehemently opposed these applications primarily on the ground that these petitions, when originally filed within the statutory period of limitation, were merely a 'bunch of papers' and could not be treated as being valid in the eyes of law. It is contended that a complete and valid petition was filed only on 18.09.2019 by which date the limitation period of 3 months and 30 days as prescribed under Section 34 (3) of the Act had already expired.