Dhar v Valuer-General

In the case of Dhar v Valuer-General, the dispute arose due to the failure to lodge an appeal to the Land Court within the prescribed time limit. The respondent, Dhar, sought to challenge the decision of the Valuer-General regarding the valuation of land. The matter was brought before the court on the grounds that the appeal was not filed in a timely manner. The primary issue before the court was whether the delay in lodging the appeal could be excused on the grounds of a reasonable cause.

The court examined the circumstances surrounding the failure to lodge the appeal within the required timeframe. It was noted that the respondent did not provide an affidavit or any other evidence to explain the delay. The respondent also did not offer any evidence or explanation as to the cause of the failure to lodge the appeal during the appeal period. The court found that without a reasonable explanation or evidence, it could not determine whether the failure to lodge the appeal was due to a reasonable cause. As a result, the court held that it did not have the jurisdiction to hear and decide the matter, as the respondent had not met the necessary requirements to excuse the delay in lodging the appeal.

Consequently, the court refused the application and held that it did not have jurisdiction to hear and decide the matter. The court did not provide any further orders beyond stating its jurisdiction was lacking. The court's decision emphasised the importance of timely lodging of appeals and the need for proper evidence and explanation to excuse any delay in doing so.