Sufficient cause is a condition precedent

The power to take cognisance after the prescribed period is conditional. The complainant must satisfy the Court that sufficient cause prevented timely filing. The Court must decide that question before cognisance. The complainant relied on viral fever and produced a medical certificate. The Magistrate eventually accepted the explanation for the short delay. That decision was made years after cognisance had been taken. A plausible explanation did not cure the failure to follow the required sequence. The statutory condition had to be fulfilled at the proper stage. (S. Nagesh v. Shobha S. Aradhya | 2026 INSC 27)