Appellate Court Can't Direct Party To Deposit Part Of Amount Covered By Impugned Verdict As Condition To Condone Delay: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has ruled that it cannot mandate an appellant to deposit the verdict amount to condone a delay in filing an appeal. The court emphasized that such a deposit requirement, which was previously imposed by certain lower courts, is not permissible under the law. Instead, the appellant only needs to demonstrate a valid reason for the delay. This decision aims to prevent undue hardship on appellants and uphold the principle of fair access to justice.