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Judgment
None present for the Respondents. It is seen that none has been appearing for the Respondents since 10.11.2022.
The short issue in this Appeal is that the opportunity to Opposite Party Nos.1 to 6, Appellants herein, was closed vide impugned order dated 25.11.2021 for non-appearance.
Learned Counsel for the Appellants submits that in view of the fact that this is the period of the COVID 2019 Pandemic and the subsequent order of the Honble Supreme Court in Suo Moto Writ Petition (Civil) No.3 of 2020 in Re : Cognizance for Extension of Limitation, excluding the period from 15.03.2020 to 28.02.2022 in calculating the periods towards limitation under various Acts, absence of the learned Counsel before the State Commission should not have been held against them by declaring them ex parte.
We find merits in the submission of the Learned Counsel for the Appellant. The Appeal is, therefore, allowed and the impugned order is set aside.
The State Commission is directed to provide an opportunity to the Appellants to file their reply and argue the matter.
Parties to appear before the State Commission on 05.04.2024.