Supreme Court To Recall Suo Motu Extension Of Limitation Period With Effect From October 1

Update at 3 PM on September 25 : Supreme Court uploads the order recalling suo motu limitation extension w.e.f October 2, 2021. Detailed report may be read here.

Supreme Court Recalls Suo Motu Extension Of Limitation With Effect From October 2; Period From 15.03.2020 To 02.10.2021 Stands Excluded From Computing Limitation

The Supreme Court on Thursday said that it will recall the suo motu order of April 27, 2021, which had extended with effect from March 14, 2021 the limitation period for filing of cases in view of the COVID second wave.

The Court said that the suo motu extension of limitation period will stand withdrawn with effect from October 1, 2021. It also indicated that a buffer period of 90 days will be given with effect from October 1. The Court said that it will pass an order to this effect, setting out the terms and conditions.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, Justices L Nageswara Rao and Surya Kant made these observations in the suo motu case In Re Cognizance For Extension of Limitation.

"I think we can lift the order", the Chief Justice of India told the Attorney General for India KK Venugopal today at the outset.

The Attorney General agreed to the suggestion, saying that normalcy has now returned and there are no containment zones in the country to his knowledge. The AG suggested that the order of March 8, 2021(which had recalled the suo motu extension of limitation ordered on March 23, 2020) could be restored.

Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the Election Commission of India, submitted that only 45 days should be given for election petitions after the lifting of limitation extension, as that is the period prescribed under the Representation of Peoples Act. He submitted that in the March 8 order, a period of 90 days was given with effect from March 15 for filings. Instead of 90 days, only 45 days should be given for election petitions, Singh submitted.

He submitted that instead of giving a 90 days period uniformly, the buffer period must be as per the limitation period fixed by the statute.

Advocate Shivaji Jadhav, the President of the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association, prayed that the limitation extension be kept in force till the end of this year, as there is a threat of third wave.

The bench rejected this prayer. "If there is a third wave, we will see", the bench said.

"We will pass orders", the CJI said after hearing the counsels.