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BARE ACT LIMITATION ACT...................................AS PASSED BY PARLIAMENT
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( k ) “promissory note” means any instrument whereby the maker engages absolutely to pay a specified sum of money to another at a time therein limited, or on demand, or at sight; ( l ) “suit” does not include an appeal or an application; ( m ) “tort" means a civil wrong which is not exclusively the breach of a contract or the breach of a trust; ( n ) “trustee” does not include a benamidar , a mortgagee remaining in possession after the mortgage has been satisfied or a person in wrongful possession without title. PART II LIMITATION OF SUITS, APPEALS AND APPLICATIONS
3. Bar of limitation.— ( 1 ) Subject to the provisions contained in sections 4 to 24 (inclusive), every suit instituted, appeal preferred, and application made after the prescribed period shall be dismissed although limitation has not been set up as a defence.
( 2 ) For the purposes of this Act, — ( a ) a suit is instituted,— ( i ) in an ordinary case, when the plaint is presented to the proper officer; ( ii ) in the case of a pauper, when his application for leave to sue as a pauper is made; and ( iii ) in the case of a claim against a company which is being wound up by the court, when the claimant first sends in his claim to the official liquidator; ( b ) any claim by way of a set off or a counter claim, shall be treated as a separate suit and shall be deemed to have been instituted — ( i ) in the case of a set off, on the same date as the suit in which the set off is pleaded; ( ii ) in the case of a counter claim, on the date on which the counter claim is made in court; ( c ) an application by notice of motion in a High Court is made when the application is presented to the proper officer of that court.
4. Expiry of prescribed period when court is closed.— Where the prescribed period for any suit, appeal or application expires on a day when the court is closed, the suit, appeal or application may be instituted, preferred or made on the day when the court re-opens.
Explanation. — A court shall be deemed to be closed on any day within the meaning of this section if during any part of its normal working hours it remains closed on that day.
5. Extension of prescribed period in certain cases.— Any appeal or any application, other than an application under any of the provisions of Order XXI of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), may be admitted after the prescribed period if the appellant or the applicant satisfies the court that he had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal or making the application within such period.
Explanation. — The fact that the appellant or the applicant was misled by any order, practice or judgment of the High Court in ascertaining or computing the prescribed period may be sufficient cause within the meaning of this section.
6. Legal disability.— ( 1 ) Where a person entitled to institute a suit or make an application for the execution of a decree is, at the time from which the prescribed period is to be reckoned, a minor or insane, or an idiot, he may institute the suit or make the application within the same period after the disability has ceased, as would otherwise have been allowed from the time specified therefor in the third column of the Schedule.
( 2 ) Where such person is, at the time from which the prescribed period is to be reckoned, affected by two such disabilities, or where, before his disability has ceased, he is affected by another disability, he may institute the suit or make the application within the same period after both disabilities have ceased, as would otherwise have been allowed from the time so specified.
( 3 ) Where the disability continues up to the death of that person, his legal representative may institute the suit or make the application within the same period after the death, as would otherwise have been allowed from the time so specified.
( 4 ) Where the legal representative referred to in sub-section ( 3 ) is, at the date of the death of the person whom he represents, affected by any such disability, the rules contained in sub-sections ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) shall apply.
( 5 ) Where a person under disability dies after the disability ceases but within the period allowed to him under this section, his legal representative may institute the suit or make the application within the same period after the death, as would otherwise have been available to that person had he not died.
Explanation. — For the purposes of this section, ‘minor’ includes a child in the womb.
7. Disability of one of several persons.— Where one of several persons jointly entitled to institute a suit or make an application for the execution of a decree is under any such disability, and a discharge can be given without the concurrence of such person, time will run against them all; but, where no such discharge can be given, time will not run as against any of them until one of them becomes capable of giving such discharge without the concurrence of the others or until the disability has ceased.
ExplanationI. — This section applies to a discharge from every kind of liability, including a liability in respect of any immovable property.
Explanation II. — For the purposes of this section, the Manager of a Hindu undivided family governed by the Mitakshara law shall be deemed to be capable of giving a discharge without the concurrence of the other members of the family only if he is in management of the joint family property.
8. Special exceptions.— Nothing in section 6 or in section 7 applies to suits to enforce rights of pre- emption, or shall be deemed to extend, for more than three years from the cessation of the disability or the death of the person affected thereby, the period of limitation for any suit or application. 9. Continuous running of time.— Where once time has begun to run, no subsequent disability or inability to institute a suit or make an application stops it:
Provided that, where letters of administration to the estate of a creditor have been granted to his debtor, the running of the period of limitation for a suit to recover the debt shall be suspended while the administration continues.
10. Suits against trustees and their representatives.— Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this Act, no suit against a person in whom property has become vested in trust for any specific purpose, or against his legal representatives or assigns (not being assigns for valuable consideration), for the purpose of following in his or their hands such property, or the proceeds thereof, or for an account of such property or proceeds, shall be barred by any length of time.
Explanation. — For the purposes of this section any property comprised in a Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist religious or charitable endowment shall be deemed to be property vested in trust for a specific purpose and the manager of the property shall be deemed to be the trustee thereof.
11. Suits on contracts entered into outside the territories to which the Act extends.— ( 1 ) Suits instituted in the territories to which this Act extends on contracts entered into in the State of Jammu and Kashmir or in a foreign country shall be subject to the rules of limitation contained in this Act.
( 2 ) No rule of limitation in force in the State of Jammu and Kashmir or in a foreign country shall be a defence to a suit instituted in the said territories on a contract entered into in that State on in a foreign country unless —
( a ) the rule has extinguished the contract; and
( b ) the parties were domiciled in that State or in the foreign country during the period prescribed by such rule.
15. Exclusion of time in certain other cases.— ( 1 ) In computing the period of limitation of any suit or application for the execution of a decree, the institution or execution of which has been stayed by injunction or order, the time of the continuance of the injunction or order, the day on which it was issued or made, and the day on which it was withdrawn, shall be excluded.
( 2 ) In computing the period of limitation for any suit of which notice has been given, or for which the previous consent or sanction of the Government or any other authority is required, in accordance with the requirements of any law for the time being in force, the period of such notice or, as the case may be, the time required for obtaining such consent or sanction shall be excluded.
Explanation. — In excluding the time required for obtaining the consent or sanction of the Government or any other authority, the date on which the application was made for obtaining the consent or sanction and the date of receipt of the order of the Government or other authority shall both be counted.
( 3 ) In computing the period of limitation for any suit or application for execution of a decree by any receiver or interim receiver appointed in proceedings for the adjudication of a person as an insolvent or by any liquidator or provisional liquidator appointed in proceedings for the winding up of a company, the period beginning with the date of institution of such proceeding and ending with the expiry of three months from the date of appointment of such receiver or liquidator, as the case may be, shall be excluded.
( 4 ) In computing the period of limitation for a suit for possession by a purchaser at a sale in execution of a decree, the time during which a proceeding to set aside the sale has been prosecuted shall be excluded.
( 5 ) In computing the period of limitation for any suit the time during which the defendant has been absent from India and from the territories outside India under the administration of the Central Government, shall be excluded.
16. Effect of death on or before the accrual of the right to sue.— ( 1 ) Where a person who would, if he were living, have a right to institute a suit or make an application dies before the right accrues, or where a right to institute a suit or make an application accrues only on the death of a person, the period of limitation shall be computed from the time when there is a legal representative of the deceased capable of instituting such suit or making such application.
( 2 ) Where a person against whom, if he were living, a right to institute a suit or make an application would have accrued dies before the right accrues, or where a right to institute a suit or make an application against any person accrues on the death of such person, the period of limitation shall be computed from the time when there is a legal representative of the deceased against whom the plaintiff may institute such suit or make such application.
( 3 ) Nothing in sub-section ( 1 ) or sub-section ( 2 ) applies to suits to enforce rights of pre-emption or to suits for the possession of immovable property or of a hereditary office.
17. Effect of fraud or mistake.— ( 1 ) Where, in the case of any suit or application for which a period of limitation is prescribed by this Act, —
( a ) the suit or application is based upon the fraud of the defendant or respondent or his agent; or
( b ) the knowledge of the right or title on which a suit or application is founded is concealed by the fraud of any such person as aforesaid; or
( c ) the suit or application is for relief from the consequences of a mistake; or
( d ) where any document necessary to establish the right of the plaintiff or applicant has been fraudulently concealed from him,
the period of limitation shall not begin to run until the plaintiff or applicant has discovered the fraud or the mistake or could, with reasonable diligence, have discovered it; or in the case of a concealed document, until the plaintiff or the applicant first had the means of producing the concealed document or compelling its production:
Provided that nothing in this section shall enable any suit to be instituted or application to be made to recover or enforce any charge against, or set aside any transaction affecting, any property which —
( i ) in the case of fraud, has been purchased for valuable consideration by a person who was not a party to the fraud and did not at the time of the purchase know, or have reason to believe, that any fraud had been committed, or
( ii ) in the case of mistake, has been purchased for valuable consideration subsequently to the transaction in which the mistake was made, by a person who did not know, or have reason to believe, that the mistake had been made, or
( iii ) in the case of a concealed document, has been purchased for valuable consideration by a person who was not a party to the concealment and, did not at the time of purchase know, or have reason to believe, that the document had been concealed.
( 2 ) Where a judgment-debtor has, by fraud or force, prevented the execution of a decree or order within the period of limitation, the court may, on the application of the judgment-creditor made after the expiry of the said period extend the period for execution of the decree or order:
Provided that such application is made within one year from the date of the discovery of the fraud or the cessation of force, as the case may be.
18. Effect of acknowledgment in writing.— ( 1 ) Where, before the expiration of the prescribed period for a suit or application in respect of any property or right, an acknowledgment of liability in respect of such property or right has been made in writing signed by the party against whom such property or right is claimed, or by any person through whom he derives his title or liability, a fresh period of limitation shall be computed from the time when the acknowledgment was so signed.
( 2 ) Where the writing containing the acknowledgment is undated, oral evidence may be given of the time when it was signed; but subject to the provisions of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872), oral evidence of its contents shall not be received.
Explanation. — For the purposes of this section, —
( a ) an acknowledgment may be sufficient though it omits to specify the exact nature of the property or right, or avers that the time for payment, delivery, performance or enjoyment has not yet come or is accompanied by a refusal to pay, deliver, perform or permit to enjoy, or is coupled with a claim to setoff, or is addressed to a person other than a person entitled to the property or right,
( b ) the word “signed” means signed either personally or by an agent duly authorised in this behalf, and
( c ) an application for the execution of a decree or order shall not be deemed to be an application in respect of any property or right.
19. Effect of payment on account of debt or of interest on legacy.— Where payment on account of a debt or of interest on a legacy is made before the expiration of the prescribed period by the person liable to pay the debt or legacy or by his agent duly authorised in this behalf, a fresh period of limitation shall be computed from the time when the payment was made:
Provided that, save in the case of payment of interest made before the 1st day of January, 1928, an acknowledgment of the payment appears in the handwriting of, or in a writing signed by, the person making the payment.
Explanation. — For the purposes of this section, —
( a ) where mortgaged land is in the possession of the mortgagee, the receipt of the rent or produce of such land shall be deemed to be a payment;
( b ) “debt” does not include money payable under a decree or order of a court.
Explanation. — Nothing is an interruption within the meaning of this section, unless where there is an actual discontinuance of the possession or enjoyment by reason of an obstruction by the act of some person other than the claimant, and unless such obstruction is submitted to or acquiesced in for one year after the claimant has notice thereof and of the person making or authorising the same to be made.
26. Exclusion in favour of reversioner of servient tenement.— Where any land or water upon, over or from, which any easement has been enjoyed or derived has been held under or by virtue of any interest for life or in terms of years exceeding three years from the granting thereof, the time of the enjoyment of such easement during the continuance of such interest or term shall be excluded in the computation of the period twenty years in case the claim is, within three years next after the determination of such interest or term, resisted by the person entitled on such determination to the said land or water. 27. Extinguishment of right to property.— At the determination of the period hereby limited to any person for instituting a suit for possession of any property, his right to such property shall be extinguished.
PART V MISCELLANEOUS
28. [ Amendment of certain Acts .] — Rep. by Repealing and Amending Act, 1974 (56 of 1974), s. 2 andtheFirst Schedule ( w.e.f. 20-12-1974). 29. Savings.— ( 1 )Nothing in this Act shall affect section 25 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 (9 of 1872).
( 2 ) Where any special or local law prescribes for any suit, appeal or application a period of limitation different from the period prescribed by the Schedule, the provisions of section 3 shall apply as if such period were the period prescribed by the Schedule and for the purpose of determining any period of limitation prescribed for any suit, appeal or application by any special or local law, the provisions contained in sections 4 to 24 (inclusive) shall apply only in so far as, and to the extent to which, they are not expressly excluded by such special or local law.
( 3 ) Save as otherwise provided in any law for the time being in force with respect to marriage and divorce, nothing in this Act shall apply to any suit or other proceeding under any such law.
( 4 ) Sections 25 and 26 and the definition of “easement” in section 2 shall not apply to cases arising in the territories to which the Indian Easements Act, 1882 (5 of 1882), may for the time being extend.
30. Provision for suits, etc., for which the prescribed period is shorter than the period prescribed by the Indian Limitation Act, 1908.— Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, —
( a ) any suit for which the period of limitation is shorter than the period of limitation prescribed by the Indian Limitation Act, 1908 (9 of 1908), may be instituted within a period of^1 [seven years] next after the commencement of this Act or within the period prescribed for such suit by the Indian Limitation Act, 1908 (9 of 1908), whichever period expires earlier: (^2) [Provided that if in respect of any such suit, the said period of seven years expires earlier than the period of limitation prescribed therefor under the Indian Limitation Act, 1908 (9 of 1908) and the said period of seven years together with so much of the period of limitation in respect of such suit under the Indian Limitation Act, 1908 (9 of 1908), as has already expired before the commencement of this Act is shorter than the period prescribed for such suit under this Act, then, the suit may be instituted within the period of limitation prescribed therefor under this Act;] ( b ) any appeal or application for which the period of limitation is shorter than the period of limitation prescribed by the Indian Limitation Act, 1908 (9 of 1908), may be preferred or made within a period of ninety days next after the commencement of this Act or within the period prescribed for such appeal or application by the Indian Limitation Act, 1908, whichever period expires earlier.
Subs. by Act 10 of 1969, s. 2, for “five years” (w.e.f. 26-3-1969).
Ins. by s. 2, ibid. (w.e.f. 26-3-1969).
31. Provisions as to barred or pending suits, etc.— Nothing in this Act shall, — ( a ) enable any suit, appeal or application to be instituted, preferred or made, for which the period of limitation prescribed by the Indian Limitation Act, 1908 (9 of 1908), expired before the commencement of this Act; or ( b ) affect any suit, appeal or application instituted, preferred or made before, and pending at, such commencement. 32. [ Repeal .] — Rep. by Repealing and Amending Act, 1974 (56 of 1974), s. 2 andtheFirst Schedule ( w.e.f. 20-12-1974).
Description of suit Period of limitation Time from which period begins to run
Three years. (^) When the period of the proposed bill elapses.
Three years. The date of the sale.
Three years. When the work is done.
Three years. When the cheque is paid.
Three years. When the loan is made.
Three years. When the demand is made.
Three years. When the money is paid.
Three years. When the money is received.
Three years. When the interest becomes due.
Three years. When the accounts are stated in writing signed by the defendant or his agent duly authorised in this behalf, unless where the debt is, by a simultaneous agreement in writing signed as aforesaid, made payable at a future time, and then when that time arrives.
Three years. When the time specified arrives or the contingency happens.
Three years. The day so specified.
Three years. The date of executing the bond.
Description of suit Period of limitation Time from which period begins to run
Three years. When the bill or note falls due.
Three years. When the bill is presented.
Three years. When the bill is presented at that place.
Three years. When the fixed time expires.
Three years. The date of the bill or note.
Three years. The expiration of the first term of payment as to the part then payable; and for the other parts, the expiration of the respective terms of payment.
Three years. When the default is made, unless where the payee or obligee waives the benefit of the provision and then when fresh default is made in respect of which there is no such waiver.
Three years. The date of the delivery to the payee.
Three years. When the notice is given.
Three years. The date of the refusal to accept.
Three years. When the acceptor pays the amount of the bill.
Three years. When the surety pays the creditor.
Three years. The date of the death of the deceased, or where the claim on the policy is denied, either partly or wholly, the date of such denial.
( b ) On a policy of insurance when the sum insured is payable after proof of the loss has been given to or received by the insurers.
Three years. The date of the occurrence causing the loss, or where the claim on the policy is denied, either partly or wholly, the date of such denial.
Description of suit Period of limitation Time from which period begins to run PART III. — SUITS RELATING TO DECLARATIONS
Three years. When the issue or registration becomes known to the plaintiff.
Three years. When the alleged adoption becomes known to the plaintiff.
PART IV. — SUITS RELATING TO DECREES AND INSTRUMENTS
Three years. When the facts entitling the plaintiff to have the instrument or decree cancelled or set aside or the contract rescinded first become known to him.
Three years. When the ward attains majority.
( b )by the ward’s legal representative — ( i ) when the ward dies within three years from the date of attaining majority;
Three years. When the ward attains majority.
( ii ) when the ward dies before attaining majority.
Three years. When the ward dies.
( a )to redeem or recover possession of immovable property mortgaged;
Thirty years. When the right to redeem or to recover possession accrues.
( b )to recover possession of immovable property mortgaged and afterwards transferred by the mortgagee for a valuable consideration;
Twelve years. When the transfer becomes known to the plaintiff.
( c ) to recover surplus collections received by the mortgagee after the mortgage has been satisfied.
Three years. When the mortgagor re-enters on the mortgaged property.
Twelve years. When the money sued for becomes due.
( a ) for foreclosure; Thirty years. When the money secured by the mortgage becomes due. ( b ) for possession of immovable property mortgaged.
Twelve years. When the mortgagee becomes entitled to possession.
Description of suit Period of limitation Time from which period begins to run
Twelve years. The date of dispossession.
Twelve years. When the possession of the defendant becomes adverse to the plaintiff.
Twelve years. When the forfeiture is incurred or the condition is broken.
Twelve years. When the tenancy is determined.
Three years. When the person having the right to the possession of the property first learns in whose possession it is.
Three years. The date of refusal after demand.
Description of suit (^) Period of limitation Time from which period begins to run
Three years. The date of the obstruction.
Three years. The date of the diversion.
Three years. The date of the trespass.
Three years. The date of the infringement.
Three years. When the injunction ceases.
Three years. When the person having the right to the possession of the property first learns in whose possession it is.
( b ) for wrongfully taking or injuring or wrongfully detaining any other specific movable property.
Three years. When the property is wrongfully taken or injured, or when the detainer’s possession becomes unlawful. PART VIII. — SUITS RELATING TO TRUSTS AND TRUST PROPERTY
Twelve years. When the transfer becomes known to the plaintiff.
Three years. When the transfer becomes known to the plaintiff.
Twelve years. When the transfer becomes known to the plaintiff.
Three years. When the transfer becomes known to the plaintiff.
Twelve years. The date of death, resignation or removal of the transferor or the date of appointment of the plaintiff as manager of the endowment, whichever is later.
Description of suit Period of limitation Time from which period begins to run PART IX. — SUITS RELATING TO MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
One year. When the purchaser takes under the sale sought to be impeached, physical possession of the whole or part of the property sold, or, where the subject- matter of the sale does not admit of physical possession of the whole or part of the property, when the instrument of sale is registered.
One year. The date of the final order.
One year. When the sale is confirmed or would otherwise have become final and conclusive had no such suit been brought.
One year. The date of the final decision or order by the court or the date of the act or order of the officer, as the case may be.
Three years. The date of the judgment or recognisance.
Three years. When the plaintiff is restored to sanity and has knowledge of the conveyance.
Three years. The date of the trustee's death or if the loss has not then resulted, the date of the loss.
Three years. When the plaintiff is first refused the enjoyment of the right.
Three years. When the arrears are payable.
Twelve years. When the legacy or share becomes payable or deliverable.