The Bombay High Court condoned a 75-day delay in filing the written statement by Gautam Dham Co-operative Housing Society in a non-commercial suit. The Court held that under Order VIII Rule 1 CPC, limitation to file a written statement begins from actual service of the plaint, not from filing of vakalatnama, as the plaintiff must ensure proper service. The delay, caused by inadvertent oversight by the advocate’s office, was deemed “sufficient cause” since the society gained no advantage and corrective action was taken immediately. The Court allowed the application and directed the Registry to record the written statement.