HAKAM SINGH Vs. PUNJAB STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) It is an application for condonation of delay of 31 days in filing the appeal against the order dated 11.3.2003 of District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Moga (hereinafter called the "district Forum" ).

(2.) The only ground for condonation of delay of 31 days in filing the appeal is mentioned in para 2 of the application, which reads as under : "that order dated 11.3.2003 passed by learned Forum below was posted to the applicant through Regd. Cover on 17.3.2003. A copy of the envelope is attached as Annexure A/1. The said order was received by the appellant on 18.3.2003 but unfortunately the copy of the said order and envelope kept in the residential premises of the appellant was misplaced and could not be traced in time. Efforts to trace the same were made by the applicant and ultimately the said copy was found on 17.5.2003 from the books of child and appellant immediately took steps to file the appeal. "

(3.) The above mentioned ground cannot be taken as a valid ground for condoning the delay of 31 days in filing the appeal. It is not stated as to when the registered envelope containing the certified copy was misplaced and what efforts were made by the applicant to trace the lost envelope. Only a vague assertion has been made in the application that registered envelope was misplaced and then one fine morning it was found on 17.5.2003. In these circumstances, we do not find any sufficient ground to condone the delay of 31 days in filing the appeal. This application is, thus, dismissed. Consequently, the appeal is also dismissed as belated.