The Hon’ble Supreme Court on 06.05.2020 passed an order providing extension of limitation period prescribed under Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 and Section 138 of Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881, with effect from 15.05.2020 till further order is passed. The said order is passed in the view of Supreme Court’s order dated 23.03.2020 in Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No.3/2020 and the difficulties faced by lawyers/litigants in physically filing the proceedings in respective tribunals or courts across the country amidst the COVID-19 lockdown.
Further, the three-judge bench decided that in case the limitation period expired after 15.03.2020 in that case, from 15.03.2020 to the date the lockdown is lifted in the jurisdictional area where dispute lies, or the cause of action arose the limitation period shall be extended to 15 days from the date of upliftment of lockdown.
The order is passed in an application seeking extension of limitation under section 29 A of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996 and section 138 of the Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881.
