Limitation Act 1963 Section 24: Computation of Time Mentioned in Instruments
Text of the Section
All instruments shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to be made with reference to the Gregorian calendar.”
Explanation Limitation Act 1963 Section 24
Section 24 of the Limitation Act 1963 is short and clear: any time mentioned in legal documents, like contracts or agreements, must be calculated using the Gregorian calendar for the purposes of this Act.
In simple terms, if a contract says you have “one year” to do something, you count it using the standard calendar we all use (January to December), not another system like a lunar or religious calendar. This rule ensures everyone uses the same method to figure out deadlines for filing lawsuits or claims under the Act, avoiding confusion over different calendar systems.
Key Points Limitation Act 1963 Section 24
- All time periods in legal instruments use the Gregorian calendar.
- Applies to deadlines for suits or actions under the Limitation Act.
- Prevents disputes from alternative calendars (e.g., lunar, religious).
- Ensures uniform time computation for limitation periods.
- Short section, focused on clarity in legal timing.
Examples Limitation Act 1963 Section 24
- Contract dated April 12, 2023, gives 3 years to sue—limit ends April 12, 2026, per Gregorian calendar.
- Will dated 2025 with a 12-year claim period—ends 2037, counted via Gregorian calendar.
Case Laws Limitation Act 1963 Section 24
Hari Ram v. Akbar Husain (1908): Allahabad High Court emphasized uniform use of Gregorian calendar for legal instruments (ILR 30 All 99).
State of Rajasthan v. Shyamlal (1964): Supreme Court upheld Gregorian calendar for computing limitation periods (AIR 1964 SC 1495).