Banks and financial institutions finance the borrower after executing the security documents. On default of the loan, the bank and FI have to initiate recovery action and file suit against the borrower. The recovery act and court only permit action if the claim is within the period of limitation. The limitation act defines the limitation period of various security documents. This Act may be called the Limitation Act, 1963.
Period of limitation: It is related to documents that entitle the holder to take action in a court of law. Period of limitation prescribed for any suit, appeal application by the Schedule, and prescribed period means the period of limitation computed by the provisions of this Act;
Bar of limitation: It defines that, every suit instituted, appeal preferred, and the application made after the prescribed period shall be dismissed although limitation has not been set up as a defense.
Expiry of the prescribed period when the 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 date when the court reopens.
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, 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.
Computation of period of limitation:
- In computing the period of limitation for any suit or application for the execution of a decree, the institution or execution of which has been stayed by injunction or order, the day on which it was issued or made, and the day on which it was withdrawn, shall be excluded.
- 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, by 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.
- 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.
Extension of Limitation Period:
- Period of limitation can be extended by Acknowledgement of debt or part payment. In both cases, the limitation period will start from the date of acknowledgment or part payment.
- The acknowledgment or part payment should be by the borrower himself or his agent specifically authorized for this purpose;
- Acknowledgement or part payment should be before the expiry of the limitation period.
- Once the limitation expires it cannot be extended by part payment or acknowledgment of debt.
- The stamped acknowledgment of the debt by the borrower before the expiry of documents does not automatically extend the period of limitation against the guarantor.
- Similarly, the acknowledgment of debt signed by the principal debtor and a surety does not bind another surety who has not joined in signing the acknowledgment/revival letter of debt;
- An admission of debt in the balance sheet filed by a firm before the I.T. Authority also extends the period of limitation from the date of (signing) the balance sheet. Such an acknowledgment does not require to be The balance sheet constitutes sufficient acknowledgment of debt in writing;
- In case limitation expires in a particular case, the liability can be revived by obtaining a fresh promise to pay the outstanding debt. As per section 25 (3) of Indian Contract Ac, a time-barred debt is a valid consideration.
The limitation period of various documents is given below:
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THE LIMITATION PERIOD OF VARIOUS DOCUMENTS |
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| Description of Suits | Period of Limitation | Time from which Period Begins to Run |
| Demand loan | 3 Years | From the date of the loan |
| Demand Promissory Note | 3 Years | From the date of DPN |
| Bill of Exchange payable on demand | 3 Years | From the date of BoE |
| Usance Bill | 3 Years | From the due date of the bill |
| TOD without DP Note | 3 Years | From the date of the loan |
| Term Loan | 3 Years | From the due date of each installment |
| Arrear of rent | 3 Years | From the date of arrear become due |
| Surety (guarantor) against the principal debtor | 3 Years | From the date when the notice is given |
| Specific performance of a contract | 3 Years | From the date fixed for performance |
| To enforcement payment of money secured by a mortgage | 12 Years | When the money sued for becoming due |
| Execution of Decree | 12 years | From the date of the decree |
| Right of foreclosure by a mortgage | 30 Years | From the date when money becomes due |
| Right of redemption | 30 Years | From the date when the right to recover accrues |
| Any suit by State/Central Government | 30 Years | From the date when limitation would start |
| Any suit for which no period of limitation is provided elsewhere in this schedule | 30 Years | From the date when the right to sue accrues |
| Money deposited payable on demand like SB, Current Account | 3 Years | From the date of demand |
| Appeal to be filled to High court against the judgment of the lower court | 90 days | From the date of the decree |
| Appeal to be filled to another court on the decree of the lower court | 30 days | From the date of the decree |
| Recovery of loss caused by fraud | 3 years | From the date of detection of fraud |
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