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Judgment
N.K. Patil, J.—This appeal by the claimant is directed against the judgment and award dated 18th January 2011, passed in MVC No. 1273/2009, by the Member, Motor Accident Claims Tribunal-IV and III Additional District Judge, D.K., Mangalore, (for short ''Tribunal'') on the ground that the compensation awarded is on the lower side and is liable to be enhanced. Along with the appeal, learned counsel appearing for appellant has also filed I.A. 1/2011, seeking cod donation of delay of 235 days in filing the Appeal.
The delay of 235 days in filing the appeal has been explained at paragraphs 4 and 5 of the affidavit filed in support of the application, I.A. 1/2011. In the said affidavit, it is stated that the impugned judgment is passed by the Court below on 18th January, 2011 and the certified copy was applied on 19th January, 2011 and the copy was ready on 28th January, 2011. Thereafter, at paragraph 5, it is stated that the Advocate advised the claimant that there is 235 days time to file the above appeal and that he was in deep financial crisis and after mobilizing the money from his friends and well wishers, he could prefer the above appeal. Therefore, he could not prefer the appeal well in time and he has stated that the said delay in filing the above appeal is not intentional, but the same is for aforesaid reasons and that if the delay in filing the above appeal is not condoned, he would be put to irreparable injury and hardship, but, on the other hand, no hardship or injury would be caused to the other side, if the delay is condoned.
I have heard the learned counsel appearing for appellant and perused the statements made in the affidavit, accompanying the application, I.A. 1/2011.
After going through the statements made in the affidavit filed in support of the application, I am of the considered view that the inordinate delay of 235 days in filing the appeal has not been explained satisfactorily by assigning valid and cogent reasons. The explanation offered is in a very casual manner. Except making bald statements, no credible or trustworthy reasons are assigned for explaining the delay of 235 days in filing the appeal. Whenever there is inordinate delay, the party is bound to explain each day''s delay in filing the appeal by setting out the dates and events. Further, it can be seen that, at paragraph 5, it is stated that the Advocate advised the claimant that there is 235 days time to file the appeal. The said statement is totally baseless and cannot be sustained at all and it shows sheer non application of mind while drafting the delay application. Hence, in view of non explanation of inordinate delay in filing the appeal, in a proper manner, I am of the view that delay cannot be condoned nor the appellant has made out a good case to condone the delay. Hence, for the foregoing reasons, I.A. 1/2011 is dismissed as misconceived.
However, in the interest of justice and equity, I have gone through the impugned judgment and award passed by Tribunal. After perusal of the same, it is seen that after the accident, the appellant was shifted to City Hospital at Mangalore where he took treatment as inpatient for the period from 26-07-2009 to 10-08-2009. He has sustained, in all, two injuries. First injury is degloving injury to left ring finger and 2nd injury is abrasion over the left little finger. Both are simple in nature. He has stated that he has spent huge amount towards treatment and has produced medical bills amounting to Rs. 25,696-05. But, in respect of certain amounts of Rs. 1,300/-, Rs. 6,500/- and Rs. 300/- stated to have been paid to three Doctors, he has not examined the concerned Doctors in support of the same. Therefore, the medical bills amount to only Rs. 18,587/-. Therefore, having regard to the age, avocation and the year of accident and also taking into consideration the fact that the appellant has sustained two simple injuries and also was in patient for more than 15 days in the Hospital, has awarded global compensation of a sum of Rs. 30,000/- for the injuries sustained by appellant in the road traffic accident. The same, in my view, is just and proper and does not call for interference. Therefore, the appeal filed by appellant is liable to be dismissed. For the foregoing reasons, the appeal filed by appellant is dismissed both on the ground of delay and laches as also on merits.