SC Dismisses SLP Against Delhi HC Decision Holding 45-Day Period For Filing Replication As Mandatory In Even Non-Commercial Suits By dismissing the SLP preferred against it, the Supreme Court on Monday affirmed a Delhi High Court decision holding that the maximum 45-day period for filing of replications is mandatory for even non-commercial, ordinary civil suits and the court cannot permit the replication to be taken on the record thereafter. The bench of Justices D. Y. Chandrachud, R. Subhash Reddy and Ravindra Bhat was hearing the SLP against an October, 2020 decision of the division bench of the Delhi High Court whereby it affirmed the Single Judge's order holding that the Court of Joint Registrar and/or the Court did not have any power to condone the delay in filing the replication beyond 45 days, which is the time-period stipulated by the Delhi High Court (Original Side) Rules, 2018. It may be noted that Rule 5 of Chapter 7 of the Rules, 2018 provides that the replication, if any, shall be filed within 30 days of receipt of the written statement. Further, if the Court is satisfied that the Plaintiff was prevented by sufficient cause for exceptional and unavoidable reasons in filing the replication within 30 days, it may extend the time for filing the same by a further period not exceeding 15 days "but not thereafter". In case no replication is filed within the extended time also, "the Registrar shall forthwith place the matter for appropriate orders before the Court".