In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court declared the intervention of third parties in legal proceedings, particularly in matters of delay condonation, as impermissible. The apex court’s decision underscored the fundamental principle that only involved parties can rightfully seek restoration.
The bench, comprising Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta, emphatically stated that allowing a stranger to file an application for condonation of delay undermines the integrity of legal proceedings. Highlighting the absence of the respondent in the subject suit, the court deemed the application filed by the outsider as utterly illegal.
The court’s scrutiny extended to the trial court’s decision to entertain the application, submitted by an unrelated party, after a significant two-year lapse. Such leniency, the bench noted, would set a dangerous precedent, potentially enabling unfounded interference in legal matters.
Critiquing the actions of both the trial court and the High Court, the Supreme Court unequivocally overturned their decisions, thus upholding the sanctity of legal proceedings.
The case, Vijay Laxman Bhawe Since Deceased v. P And S Nirman Pvt Ltd, stands as a testament to the court’s unwavering commitment to preserving the integrity and fairness of the legal system.
