COLLECTOR LAND ACQUISITION, ANANTNAG & ANR. vs MST. KATIJI & ORS.

The Supreme Court addressed the application of Section 51 of the Indian Limitation Act, 1963, emphasizing that the 'sufficient cause' standard should be applied flexibly to ensure substantial justice. The Court held that refusing to condone a delay of four days in filing an appeal could lead to the dismissal of a meritorious case, thereby defeating justice. The appeal was ultimately dismissed as time-barred, reinforcing the principle that technicalities should not overshadow the pursuit of justice.