Covid 19- SC extends limitation prescribed under Arbitration & NI Act

In re Cognizance for Extension of Limitation (Supreme Court)

In view of this Court’s earlier order dated 23.03.2020 passed in  Suo  Motu  Writ  Petition  (Civil)  No. 3/2020  and  taking  into consideration the  effect  of  the  Corona  Virus  (COVID  19)  and resultant difficulties being faced by  the lawyers and litigants and  with  a  view  to  obviate  such  difficulties  and  to  ensure  that lawyers/litigants do not  have  to come  physically to  file  such proceedings in  respective Courts/Tribunal across  the  country including this Court, it  is hereby ordered that all periods of limitation  prescribed  under  the  Arbitration  and  Conciliation  Act, 1996 and under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act 1881 shall  be  extended  with  effect  from  15.03.2020  till  further  orders to be passed by this Court in the present proceedings.

FULL TEXT OF THE SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT

By  way  of  filing  this  application  for  directions,  the applicant has made the following prayer :

“To issue appropriate directions qua (i) arbitration proceedings in relation to section 29A of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 and (ii) initiation of proceedings under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881;”

In view of this Court’s earlier order dated 23.03.2020 passed in  Suo  Motu  Writ  Petition  (Civil)  No.3/2020  and  taking  into consideration the  effect  of  the  Corona  Virus  (COVID  19)  and resultant difficulties being faced by  the lawyers and litigants and  with  a  view  to  obviate  such  difficulties  and  to  ensure  that lawyers/litigants do not  have  to come  physically to  file  such proceedings in  respective Courts/Tribunal across  the  country including this Court, it  is hereby ordered that all periods of limitation  prescribed  under  the  Arbitration  and  Conciliation  Act, 1996 and under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act 1881 shall  be  extended  with  effect  from  15.03.2020  till  further  orders to be passed by this Court in the present proceedings.

In  case  the  limitation  has  expired  after  15.03.2020  then  the period from  15.03.2020  till  the  date  on  which  the  lockdown  is lifted  in the jurisdictional area where the dispute lies or where the  cause  of  action  arises  shall  be  extended  for  a  period  of  15 days after the lifting of lockdown.

In view of the above, the instant interlocutory application is disposed of.

IA  No.48375/2020  –  CLARIFICATION/DIRECTION  AND  IA  No.48511/2020  –CLARIFICATION/DIRECTION AND  IA No.48461/2020 – CLARIFICATION/DIRECTION AND IA No.48374/2020 – INTERVENTION APPLICATION AND IA No.48416/2020 – INTERVENTION APPLICATION AND IA No.48408/2020 – INTERVENTION APPLICATION

Issue notice.

Waive service on behalf of the respondent – Union of India since Mr. K. K. Venugopal, learned Attorney General for India and Mr. Tushar Mehta, learned Solicitor General, appear on its behalf.

Let notice be issued to other respondents.