Appeal Cannot Be Dismissed As Not Maintainable On Account Of Non-Payment Of Requisite Fee: Punjab and Haryana High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled that an appeal cannot be dismissed for non-payment of requisite fees at the initial stage. In this case, the appellant had filed an appeal but failed to pay the required fees within the stipulated time. The lower court had dismissed the appeal on these grounds, but the higher court found that such a dismissal was improper. The court emphasized that the failure to pay fees should not automatically lead to the dismissal of an appeal. Instead, the court directed that the appellant be allowed to pay the required fees and have the appeal considered on its merits, stressing the need for access to justice.