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Limitation period calculator, to the exact day
Pick what you are filing, enter the date time starts to run, and see the last day to file under the Limitation Act, 1963, with the article it comes from.
Pick what you are filing and enter the date to see the deadline.
This calculator reads the Schedule to the Limitation Act, 1963. It does not know your court's holidays, any order extending time, or facts that move the starting date (fraud, acknowledgment, part payment, disability). Check the bare Act before you rely on a date.
How the last day is counted
The first day is left out
Section 12(1) excludes the day from which the period runs. A thirty-day period from 1 March ends on 31 March.
Years and months follow the calendar
Three years from 10 June 2024 ends on 10 June 2027. Where that date does not exist in the final month, the period ends on that month's last day.
Copy time is left out of appeals
For an appeal, revision or review, Section 12(2) also leaves out the time needed to get a certified copy of the decree or order. Enter it in the box.
Closed court, next working day
If the period ends on a day the court is closed, Section 4 lets you file on the day it reopens.
Late filing
Section 5 lets a court admit a late appeal or application on sufficient cause. It never saves a suit, or an execution application under Order XXI.
When another Act sets its own period
Section 29(2) makes a period in a special or local law apply in place of the Schedule. Three you will meet often:
- A consumer complaint: two years from the cause of action (Consumer Protection Act, 2019, section 69).
- A cheque bounce complaint: within one month of the cause of action (Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, section 142).
- Setting aside an arbitral award: three months from receiving it, and up to thirty days more on sufficient cause (Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, section 34(3)).
Periods of limitation at a glance
The articles this calculator covers, in the Schedule's own words.
Suits
| Article | Description | Period | Time runs from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Accounts and profits of a dissolved partnership. For an account and a share of the profits of a dissolved partnership. | Three years | The date of the dissolution. |
| 7 | Unpaid wages. For wages in the case of any other person. | Three years | When the wages accrue due. |
| 14 | Price of goods sold and delivered, no credit period. For the price of goods sold and delivered where no fixed period of credit is agreed upon. | Three years | The date of the delivery of the goods. |
| 18 | Payment for work done, no payment date fixed. For the price of work done by the plaintiff for the defendant at his request, where no time has been fixed for payment. | Three years | When the work is done. |
| 19 | Recovery of money lent. For money payable for money lent. | Three years | When the loan is made. |
| 21 | Loan payable on demand. For money lent under an agreement that it shall be payable on demand. | Three years | When the loan is made. |
| 35 | Promissory note or bill payable on demand. On a bill of exchange or promissory note payable on demand and not accompanied by any writing restraining or postponing the right to sue. | Three years | The date of the bill or note. |
| 44(a) | Life insurance claim. On a policy of insurance when the sum insured is payable after proof of the death has been given to or received by the insurers. | 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. |
| 44(b) | Insurance claim for a loss. 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. |
| 52 | Arrears of rent. For arrears of rent. | Three years | When the arrears become due. |
| 54 | Specific performance of a contract. For specific performance of a contract. | Three years | The date fixed for the performance, or, if no such date is fixed, when the plaintiff has notice that performance is refused. |
| 55 | Damages for breach of contract. For compensation for the breach of any contract, express or implied not herein specially provided for. | Three years | When the contract is broken or (where there are successive breaches) when the breach in respect of which the suit is instituted occurs or (where the breach is continuing) when it ceases. |
| 56 | Declaring a document forged. To declare the forgery of an instrument issued or registered. | Three years | When the issue or registration becomes known to the plaintiff. |
| 58 | Any other declaration. To obtain any other declaration. | Three years | When the right to sue first accrues. |
| 59 | Cancelling a document or decree, or rescinding a contract. To cancel or set aside an instrument or decree or for the rescission of a contract. | 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. |
| 64 | Possession after dispossession, based on possession. For possession of immovable property based on previous possession and not on title, when the plaintiff while in possession of the property has been dispossessed. | Twelve years | The date of dispossession. |
| 65 | Possession of immovable property based on title. For possession of immovable property or any interest therein based on title. | Twelve years | When the possession of the defendant becomes adverse to the plaintiff. |
| 67 | Landlord recovering possession from a tenant. By a landlord to recover possession from a tenant. | Twelve years | When the tenancy is determined. |
| 74 | Malicious prosecution. For compensation for a malicious prosecution. | One year | When the plaintiff is acquitted or the prosecution is otherwise terminated. |
| 75 | Defamation in writing (libel). For compensation for libel. | One year | When the libel is published. |
| 76 | Defamation by spoken words (slander). For compensation for slander. | One year | When the words are spoken or, if the words are not actionable in themselves, when the special damage complained of results. |
| 82 | Compensation for a death under the Fatal Accidents Act. By executors, administrators or representatives under the Indian Fatal Accidents Act, 1855 (13 of 1855). | Two years | The date of the death of the person killed. |
| 88 | Infringement of copyright or another exclusive right. For compensation for infringing copyright or any other exclusive privilege. | Three years | The date of the infringement. |
| 97 | Pre-emption. To enforce a right of pre-emption whether the right is founded on law or general usage or on special contract. | 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. |
| 105 | Arrears of maintenance (Hindu). By a Hindu for arrears of maintenance. | Three years | When the arrears are payable. |
| 110 | Share in joint family property after exclusion. By a person excluded from a joint family property to enforce a right to share therein. | Twelve years | When the exclusion becomes known to the plaintiff. |
| 113 | Any other suit. Any suit for which no period of limitation is provided elsewhere in this Schedule. | Three years | When the right to sue accrues. |
Appeals
| Article | Description | Period | Time runs from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 114(a) | Appeal against acquittal. Appeal from an order of acquittal under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 417 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898). | Ninety days | The date of the order appealed from. |
| 115(a) | Appeal against a death sentence. Under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, from a sentence of death passed by a court of session or by a High Court in the exercise of its original criminal jurisdiction. | Thirty days | The date of the sentence. |
| 115(b)(i) | Criminal appeal to the High Court. Under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, from any other sentence or any order not being an order of acquittal, to the High Court. | Sixty days | The date of the sentence or order. |
| 115(b)(ii) | Criminal appeal to any other court. Under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, from any other sentence or any order not being an order of acquittal, to any other court. | Thirty days | The date of the sentence or order. |
| 116(a) | Civil appeal to the High Court. Under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, to a High Court from any decree or order. | Ninety days | The date of the decree or order. |
| 116(b) | Civil appeal to any other court. Under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, to any other court from any decree or order. | Thirty days | The date of the decree or order. |
| 117 | Appeal within the same High Court. From a decree or order of any High Court to the same Court. | Thirty days | The date of the decree or order. |
Applications
| Article | Description | Period | Time runs from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 118 | Leave to defend a summary suit. For leave to appear and defend a suit under summary procedure. | Ten days | When the summons is served. |
| 120 | Bringing legal representatives on record. Under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, to have the legal representative of a deceased plaintiff or appellant, or of a deceased defendant or respondent, made a party. | Ninety days | The date of death of the plaintiff, appellant, defendant or respondent as the case may be. |
| 121 | Setting aside an abatement. Under the same Code for an order to set aside an abatement. | Sixty days | The date of abatement. |
| 122 | Restoring a case dismissed for default. To restore a suit or appeal or application for review or revision dismissed for default of appearance or for want of prosecution or for failure to pay costs of service of process or to furnish security for costs. | Thirty days | The date of dismissal. |
| 123 | Setting aside an ex parte decree. To set aside a decree passed ex parte or to re-hear an appeal decreed or heard ex parte. | Thirty days | The date of the decree or where the summons or notice was not duly served, when the applicant had knowledge of the decree. |
| 124 | Review of a judgment (any court but the Supreme Court). For a review of judgment by a court other than the Supreme Court. | Thirty days | The date of the decree or order. |
| 127 | Setting aside a sale in execution. To set aside a sale in execution of a decree, including any such application by a judgment-debtor. | Sixty days | The date of the sale. |
| 131 | Revision, civil or criminal. To any court for the exercise of its powers of revision under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, or the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898. | Ninety days | The date of the decree or order or sentence sought to be revised. |
| 132 | Certificate to appeal to the Supreme Court. To the High Court for a certificate of fitness to appeal to the Supreme Court under clause (1) of article 132, article 133 or sub-clause (c) of clause (1) of article 134 of the Constitution or under any other law for the time being in force. | Sixty days | The date of the decree, order or sentence. |
| 133(a) | Special leave to the Supreme Court, death sentence. To the Supreme Court for special leave to appeal in a case involving death sentence. | Sixty days | The date of the judgment, final order or sentence. |
| 133(b) | Special leave to the Supreme Court after the High Court refused leave. To the Supreme Court for special leave to appeal in a case where leave to appeal was refused by the High Court. | Sixty days | The date of the order of refusal. |
| 133(c) | Special leave to the Supreme Court (SLP), other cases. To the Supreme Court for special leave to appeal in any other case. | Ninety days | The date of the judgment or order. |
| 134 | Delivery of possession to an auction purchaser. For delivery of possession by a purchaser of immovable property at a sale in execution of a decree. | One year | When the sale becomes absolute. |
| 135 | Enforcing a mandatory injunction decree. For the enforcement of a decree granting a mandatory injunction. | Three years | The date of the decree or where a date is fixed for performance, such date. |
| 136 | Execution of a decree. For the execution of any decree (other than a decree granting a mandatory injunction) or order of any civil court. | Twelve years | When the decree or order becomes enforceable or where the decree or any subsequent order directs any payment of money or the delivery of any property to be made at a certain date or at recurring periods, when default in making the payment or delivery in respect of which execution is sought, takes place. |
| 137 | Any other application. Any other application for which no period of limitation is provided elsewhere in this division. | Three years | When the right to apply accrues. |
Questions about limitation
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