Quick Summary: In a twist for a property case in Salem, the court has allowed an 80-year-old man to challenge a previous decision made without him being there. The court found good reasons for his absence and decided to give him another chance.
On December 19, 2025, the High Court of Madras, with Justice P.B. Balaji, delivered an important decision. The case involved a property dispute in Salem, with the people involved, including Rajammal and S.M. Jayaprakash, challenging a decision from March 18, 2025. The earlier decision had dismissed their request to challenge a ruling made on October 5, 2018, when they weren't present.
Rajammal and S.M. Jayaprakash argued that the 255-day delay in challenging the decision was because S. Murugesan (now deceased) was old and had health problems. They said he couldn't attend court because he was hurt from a fall. Their lawyer, Mr. L. Ramanathan, stressed the importance of protecting their rights over the property.
"The valuable rights of the petitioners are at stake," argued Mr. Ramanathan.
The respondent, P. Paramasivam, represented by Mr. K. Natarajan, opposed the request. They argued that the petitioners often delayed things and that the previous court's decision was fair.
"The order of the trial Court is well reasoned," stated Mr. Natarajan.
Justice P.B. Balaji looked at the situation and found that the petitioners had a good reason for not being there. Referring to the Supreme Court's view on having a 'good reason,' the judge decided to let the petitioners challenge the ruling.
"Courts have wide discretion in deciding 'sufficient cause'," noted Justice Balaji.
The court canceled the previous order and told the I Additional Subordinate Judge in Salem to handle the case based on its facts. The judge stressed the need for a quick trial, aiming to resolve the case by March 31, 2026.
This decision shows the court's willingness to consider personal situations and ensure fair trials, even when initial decisions have been made without someone being there.
