LAW FAVORS THE VIGILANT, NOT THE SLEEPY: BOMBAY HIGH COURT RULING

The Bombay High Court recently underscored the importance of vigilance in legal proceedings, dismissing an application to condone a delay of 5,193 days in filing a review petition. The case involved an application by Maniben Chandrakant Dalal, who sought to challenge an order from October 3, 2001.

Justice Abhay Ahuja, in his ruling earlier this month, emphasized that the law aids those who are vigilant, not those who are negligent. The applicant faced a substantial delay in filing the review petition, which the court deemed too significant to overlook. Consequently, the court imposed a cost of Rs 50,000 on Dalal.

The original 2001 order, based on consent terms between the parties, had transferred eviction suits concerning a Dadar plot from the small causes court to the Bombay High Court. It wasn’t until 2018 that Dalal, after consulting a new lawyer, realized the need to challenge this order.

Respondents’ advocates, Mohan Tekavde and Swati Tekavde, argued against condoning the delay, citing insufficient explanation. The High Court concurred, highlighting the excessive delay and reaffirming that legal protections favor those who remain alert and proactive.

This ruling serves as a crucial reminder: the judicial system rewards diligence and timely action, not complacency.