As per case facts, the tenant (appellant) received an eviction order and, due to a paralytic attack, filed an appeal with a delay condonation application. The appellate authority dismissed it, ... claiming no power to condone delay as it was a persona designata, a decision upheld by the High Court. The question arose whether the appellate authority under Section 18 of the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965, can condone delay in appeal using Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963. Finally, the Supreme Court ruled that the appellate authority functions as a court, not a persona designata. As the Rent Act is a special law with a distinct limitation period and no explicit exclusion of Section 5, Section 29(2) of the Limitation Act applies, making Section 5 applicable. Thus, the appellate authority has jurisdiction to consider delay condonation applications on merits, quashing previous contrary decisions and remanding the case for re-evaluation.