Limitation Period Calculator
Find the last day to file an appeal, review, revision, execution or suit under the Limitation Act, 1963 — with the certified-copy exclusion built in.
Counts from the day after the starting date (Section 12(1)). Doesn’t know court holidays. Special laws (Commercial Courts Act, Supreme Court Rules, NI Act, tribunals) prescribe their own periods. Always verify — this is not legal advice.
Periods covered
| Article | Description | Period | Time runs from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art. 116(a) | Appeal under the CPC to a High Court | 90 days | the date of the decree or order |
| Art. 116(b) | Appeal under the CPC to any other court | 30 days | the date of the decree or order |
| Art. 117 | Appeal from a High Court decree/order to the same High Court | 30 days | the date of the decree or order |
| Art. 124 | Review of judgment (court other than the Supreme Court) | 30 days | the date of the decree or order |
| Art. 131 | Revision (CPC / Code of Criminal Procedure) | 90 days | the date of the decree, order or sentence |
| Art. 123 | Set aside an ex parte decree | 30 days | the date of the decree (or of knowledge, where summons was not duly served) |
| Art. 136 | Execution of a decree (other than a mandatory injunction) | 12 years | when the decree becomes enforceable |
| Art. 137 | Any other application with no period provided | 3 years | when the right to apply accrues |
| Art. 19 | Suit for money payable for money lent | 3 years | when the loan is made |
| Art. 54 | Specific performance of a contract | 3 years | the date fixed for performance, or when the plaintiff has notice that performance is refused |
| Art. 55 | Compensation for breach of contract | 3 years | when the contract is broken |
| Art. 58 | Suit for a declaration (any other) | 3 years | when the right to sue first accrues |
| Art. 65 | Possession of immovable property based on title | 12 years | when possession of the defendant becomes adverse to the plaintiff |
| Art. 113 | Any suit with no period provided elsewhere | 3 years | when the right to sue accrues |
How the calculation works
- First day excluded — Section 12(1): the day from which the period is reckoned isn’t counted.
- Certified copy time excluded — Section 12(2), for appeals, revisions and reviews.
- Court closed on the last day — Section 4: file on the day the court reopens.
- Delay — Section 5 lets the court condone delay in appeals and applications for sufficient cause.
Deadlines are easy to compute and easy to forget. JusticeTrack keeps every matter’s next date in one place and reminds you before it arrives.
Frequently asked questions
How is the limitation period calculated?
Under Section 12(1) of the Limitation Act, 1963, the day from which the period runs is excluded. So for a 30-day appeal against a decree dated 1 March, counting starts on 2 March and the last day is 31 March.
Is the time taken to get a certified copy excluded?
Yes, for appeals, revisions and reviews. Section 12(2) excludes the time requisite for obtaining a copy of the decree, sentence or order appealed from or sought to be revised or reviewed. Enter those days in the calculator.
What if the last day is a court holiday?
Section 4 provides that where the prescribed period expires on a day when the court is closed, the proceeding may be instituted on the day the court reopens.
What is the limitation for an appeal to the High Court?
Under Article 116(a), an appeal under the Code of Civil Procedure to a High Court must be filed within 90 days from the date of the decree or order. Appeals to any other court get 30 days under Article 116(b).
Can a delay be condoned?
For appeals and applications, Section 5 allows the court to admit them after the period if the applicant shows sufficient cause. It does not apply to suits.
Does this cover criminal, commercial or tribunal matters?
No. Special statutes set their own periods — for example the Commercial Courts Act, the Supreme Court Rules for special leave petitions, the Negotiable Instruments Act and tribunal rules. Check the specific statute.
Source: Limitation Act, 1963 (Schedule and Sections 4, 5 and 12). General information, not legal advice. More tools: CNR number decoder