Here's a quick rundown: In a recent court case in New Delhi, the High Court had to decide whether to accept a late written statement from one of the people being sued. The court eventually allowed it, setting the stage for further proceedings.
On February 26, 2026, the High Court of Delhi made a decision in the case of Sumeet Rai vs. Shashi Prabha and others. The case was about a delay in filing a written statement by Shashi Prabha, known as defendant no. 2.
Shashi Prabha showed up in court on October 9, 2025. However, she claimed she received incomplete and hard-to-read documents. It wasn't until October 9, 2025, that she got the full set of documents. The court noted that the 30-day period for filing the written statement ended on November 8, 2025. The statement was filed on November 24, 2025, which was 15 days late.
"In the facts and circumstances of the present case, service to defendant no. 2 can be said to be effective only on 09th October, 2025." — Justice Mini Pushkarna
The court, led by Justice Mini Pushkarna, decided that the delay was within the allowable limit of 120 days. So, they accepted the late filing. The previous order from January 22, 2026, which dismissed Shashi Prabha's application, was canceled.
The court allowed the person who started the case, Sumeet Rai, to respond to the written statement. Other people involved in the case were also given time to respond. The case is a family matter involving splitting up property, so it was referred to the Delhi High Court Mediation and Conciliation Centre to try and solve it through mediation.
This case highlights how important it is to have all documents in order and the impact of delays in legal proceedings.
