Created by Fuzzy Cloud

Bombay High Court

SITARAM BHAURAO KENDHALE (DIED) THR. LRS. LILAVATI SITARAM KENDHALE AND ORSversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH THE COLLECTOR JALNA AND ORS.

Disposal
Admitted/Allowed/Granted/Rule Absolute

Holding

The Court condoned the delay but barred the applicants from claiming interest or statutory benefits for the delayed period.

Summary

The High Court of Bombay, Aurangabad Bench, considered six separate civil applications seeking condonation of delay in filing first appeals against orders of the Collector, Jalna. The applicants admitted that the delays, ranging from 859 to 2,183 days, were attributable to their own lapses but offered to forgo interest and statutory benefits for the delayed period. The respondents did not contest the averments but pointed out the applicants' lapses. The Court examined whether the delay could be condoned under the principles of equity and procedural law. It held that the delay is condoned on the condition that the applicants shall not be entitled to claim interest or statutory benefits for the period of delay, except that no forfeiture of benefit applies to applications No. 3405/2025 and 4011/2025. Consequently, the first appeals were ordered to be registered and the civil applications were disposed.

Issues considered

  • Whether the delay in filing the first appeal can be condoned despite being attributable to the applicants.
  • Whether the applicants are entitled to claim interest and statutory benefits for the period of delay.

Subjects

  • condonation of delay
  • first appeal
  • interest
  • statutory benefits
  • civil procedure

Judgment

2026:BHC-AUG:6511




                                                 1                      79 to 85 ca 13263.24

                      IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                 BENCH AT AURANGABAD

                            79 CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 13263 OF 2024
                                             IN
                            FIRST APPEAL STAMP NO. 20836 OF 2024

                         Ganpat Ramsing Rathod                     .. Applicant
                               Versus
                         The State of Maharashtra, through
                         Collector Jalna and others                ..     Respondents

                    Shri S. M. Kakde, Advocate for the Applicant.
                    Shri S. N. Morampalle, A.G.P. for the Respondent Nos. 1 to 3.

                                            AND
                            80 CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 13977 OF 2024
                                             IN
                            FIRST APPEAL STAMP NO. 28144 OF 2024

                         Sitaram Bhaurao Kendhale
                         Since deceased through his L.Rs.
                         Lilavati Sitaram Kendhale and others      .. Applicants
                               Versus
                         The State of Maharashtra, through
                         Collector Jalna and others                ..     Respondents

                    Shri S. M. Kakde, Advocate for the Applicants.
                    Shri N. D. Raje, A.G.P. for the Respondent Nos. 1 to 3.

                                            AND
                            81 CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 13984 OF 2024
                                             IN
                            FIRST APPEAL STAMP NO. 30068 OF 2024

                         Sangita Sarjerao Khandare                 .. Applicant
                               Versus
                         The State of Maharashtra, through
                         Collector Jalna and others                ..     Respondents
                             2                      79 to 85 ca 13263.24

Shri S. M. Kakde, Advocate for the Applicant.
Shri S. V. Hange, A.G.P. for the Respondent Nos. 1 to 3.

                        AND
        83 CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 1414 OF 2025
                         IN
        FIRST APPEAL STAMP NO. 28139 OF 2024

     Ganesh Maroti Sontakke                    .. Applicant
           Versus
     The State of Maharashtra, through
     Collector Jalna and others                ..     Respondents

Shri S. M. Kakde, Advocate for the Applicant.
Shri N. D. Raje, A.G.P. for the Respondent Nos. 1 to 3.

                         AND
         84 CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 3405 OF 2025
                          IN
         FIRST APPEAL STAMP NO. 1955 OF 2025

     Balchand Rekhaa Rathod
     since deceased through his L.Rs.
     Lakshmibai (died) through L.Rs.
     Raju Balchand Rathod and another          .. Applicants
           Versus
     The State of Maharashtra, through
     Collector Jalna and others                ..     Respondents

Shri S. M. Kakde, Advocate for the Applicants.
Shri S. V. Hange, A.G.P. for the Respondent Nos. 1 to 3.

                         AND
         85 CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 4011 OF 2025
                          IN
         FIRST APPEAL STAMP NO. 4405 OF 2025

     Dnyaneshwar Ramdas Rathod                 .. Applicant
          Versus
     The State of Maharashtra, through
                                     3                          79 to 85 ca 13263.24

       Collector Jalna and others                          ..     Respondents

Shri S. M. Kakde, Advocate for the Applicant.
Shri S. N. Morampalle, A.G.P. for the Respondent Nos. 1 to 3.

                      CORAM : SHAILESH P. BRAHME, J.
                       DATE : 12TH FEBRUARY, 2026.

FINAL ORDER :


.      Common order can be passed in all these applications for
condonation of delay.


2.     Following are the material particulars which tendered by
the applicants.
Sr.   Name of Applicant            Civil Appln. Number Date of filing Date of 01st
No.                                No.          of days               order
                                                delay
1     Ganpat Ramsing Rathod        13263/2024   2038      02/08/2024     08/08/2025
2     Sitaram Bhaurao Kendhale     13977/2024   859       07/10/2024     08/08/2025
3     Sangita Sarjerao Khandare    13984/2024   2020      22/10/2024     08/08/2025
4     Ganesh Maroti Sontakke       1414/2025    859       07/10/2024     08/08/2025
5     Balchand    Rekha     Rathod 3405/2025    2183      15/01/2025     08/08/2025
      (Died)
6     Dnyaneshwar Ramdas Rathod 4011/2025       959       06/02/2025     08/08/2025


3.     In the matters in which delay is sought to be condoned, the
averments of the applications have not been controverted by the
respondents.        Applicants are ready to give up interest and
statutory benefits for the delayed period.


4.     Learned A. G. P. for the respondents – acquiring body point
out that there are lapses on the part of the applicants, which can
                               4                   79 to 85 ca 13263.24

be seen from above chart, which are attributable to the
applicants.


5.    For the reasons stated in the applications, the applications
are allowed. The delay stands condoned subject to condition that
the applicants shall not be entitled to claim interest and
statutory benefits for the delayed period as well as for the period
of lapses from the date of filing of applications till the date of
first order as shown in the above referred chart. Office shall
register the first appeals. The civil applications are disposed of.


6.    It is clarified that no forfeiture of benefit of lapses is
applicable in the matters bearing Civil Application No. 3405 of
2025 and Civil Application No. 4011 of 2025.



                               [ SHAILESH P. BRAHME J. ]


bsb/Feb. 26


Continue reading with your account

Sign in to read the full judgment. It’s free.

Sign in to read

Checking your session…

For a signed copy suitable for filing, refer to the court's website.