Grounds of exemption from limitation law
Full Text
Where the suit is instituted after the expiration of the period prescribed by the law of limitation, the plaint shall show the ground upon which exemption from such law is claimed:
Provided that the Court may permit the plaintiff to claim exemption from the law of limitation on any ground not set out in the plaint, if such ground is not inconsistent with the grounds set out in the plaint.
Plain English Summary
Mandates that where a suit is filed beyond the standard limitation period, the plaint must expressly plead the legal grounds of exemption (such as acknowledgment of debt, fraud, or disability under the Limitation Act, 1963).
Key Legal Elements
- Mandatory Exemption Pleading: Failure to plead exemption grounds attracts rejection under Order VII Rule 11(d).
- Statutory Grounds Recognized: Section 18 Limitation Act (written acknowledgment), Section 19 (part payment), Section 14 (bona fide prior proceeding), Section 17 (fraud/mistake), Section 6 (minority/insanity).
- Proviso (Court Discretion): Court may permit reliance on unpleaded exemption grounds if consistent with the plaint narrative.
Practical Note
Overcoming Limitation Defenses: 1. Strict Pleading of Section 18 Acknowledgment: If suing on a 4-year-old loan, you MUST plead: 'The defendant acknowledged liability in writing vide letter/email dated [Date] within the initial 3-year period, extending limitation under Section 18 of the Limitation Act, 1963 read with Order VII Rule 6 CPC'. 2. Rejection under Order VII Rule 11(d): In Saleem Bhai v. State of Maharashtra (2003) 1 SCC 557, it was settled that if the plaint on its face shows the claim is time-barred and fails to plead an exemption under Rule 6, the plaint MUST be rejected outright.
हिंदी पाठ
जहां वाद परिसीमा विधि द्वारा विहित अवधि की समाप्ति के पश्चात संस्थित किया जाता है, वहां वादपत्र में वह आधार दर्शित किया जाएगा जिस पर ऐसी विधि से छूट (Exemption) का दावा किया गया है:
परन्तु न्यायालय वादी को परिसीमा विधि से छूट का दावा किसी ऐसे आधार पर करने की अनुमति दे सकेगा जो वादपत्र में उपवर्णित नहीं है, यदि ऐसा आधार वादपत्र में उपवर्णित आधारों से असंगत न हो।