This is a ruling on preliminary objection lodged with prior
notice by the Respondent Republic against the Appellants that their appeal is
out of time as the Notice of Appeal was filed outside the 14 days required by
the law. It is the contention by the Appellants that the appeal is in time as
the judgment was read in their absence and were informed of their fate 9 days
later and their notice of appeal was confirmed by the District Registrar of the
High Court that it was filed within time.