Supreme Court of India
M/S CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENTERPRISESversusPRINCIPAL SECY. IRRIGATION DEPTT. & ORS.
- Citation
- 2008 INSC 447
- Decided
- 3 April 2008
- Disposal
- Disposed off
- Bench
- K G BALAKRISHNAN
Holding
Section 14 of the Limitation Act, 1963 applies to applications under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, and the appellant is entitled to exclusion of the period spent prosecuting the matter in the wrong courts.
Summary
The Supreme Court examined whether Section 14 of the Limitation Act, 1963, which excludes time spent prosecuting a proceeding in a wrong court, applies to an application under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 for setting aside an arbitral award. It held that while Section 5 of the Limitation Act is excluded by the specific provision in Section 34(3), Section 14 is not excluded and therefore applies. The Court further found that the appellant had pursued the matter in the wrong courts with due diligence and in good faith, satisfying the conditions for invoking Section 14. Consequently, the time spent in those courts is excluded from the three‑month limitation period. The appeal challenging the High Court’s finding that the appellant was not diligent was dismissed, while the appeal supporting the High Court’s application of Section 14 was allowed. The final orders set aside the lower court’s dismissal of the application and directed the case to proceed on the merits.
Issues considered
- Whether Section 14 of the Limitation Act, 1963 is applicable to an application filed under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 for setting aside an arbitral award.
- Whether the appellant’s prosecution of the application in courts lacking jurisdiction was done with due diligence and good faith, thereby qualifying for exclusion of time under Section 14.
Legislation cited
- Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996s. 34, s. 43
- Code of Civil Procedure, 1908s. Article 116, s. Article 119(b)
- Limitation Act, 1963s. 14, s. 29, s. 3, s. 5
Subjects
ArbitrationLimitation ActSection 34Section 14Time-barGood faithDue diligenceJurisdictionSetting aside award
Judgment
(2008] 5 S.C.R. 1108
A MIS CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENTERPRISES .... <
v.
PRINCIPAL SECY. IRRIGATION DEPTT. & ORS.
(C.A.No. 2461 of 2008)
APRIL 3, 2008
B
(K.G. BALAKRISHNAN, CJ & R.V. RAVEENDRAN
AND J.M. PANCHAL, JJ.)
Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996 - S. 34 - Applicability
c of s. 14 of the Limitation Act - Held, s. 14 of the Limitation Act,
1963 is applicable to an application filed under s.34 of the
Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996 -Limitation Act, 1963, s. 14
- Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
Words & Phrases:
D
"due diligence" - Meaning of
In these two appeals, the question for consideration
before the Court was whether the provision of Section 14 -. '
of the Limitation Act would be applicable to an application
E submitted under Section 34 of the Arbitration and
Conciliation Act, 1996, for setting aside the award made
by the arbitrator.
Dismissing Civil Appeal No.2461 of 2008 and allowing
Civil Appeal No.2462 of 2008, the Court
F
.
HELD: Per Panchal, J. (for himself and CJI) .
1. A bare reading of sub-section (3) of Section 34 of
the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1966 read with the
proviso makes it abundantly clear that the application for
G setting aside the award on the grounds mentioned in sub-
section (2) of Section 34 will have to be made within three
months. The period can further be extended, on sufficient
cause being shown, by another period of 30 days but not
thereafter. Section 29(2) of the Limitation Act, inter alia t .
H 1108
M/S CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENT. v. PRINCIPAL SECY. 1109
IRRIGATION DEPTT. & ORS.
provides that where any special or local law prescribes A
for any suit, appeal or application a period of limitation
different from the period of limitation prescribed by the
schedule, the provisions of Section 3 shall apply as if such
period was the period prescribed by the schedule and
for the purpose of determining any period of limitation 8
prescribed for any suit, appeal or application by any
special or local law, the provisions contained in Sections
1
l 4 to 24 shall apply only insofar as, and to the extent, they
are not expressly excluded by such .special or local law.
When any special statute prescribes certain period of c
limitation as well as provision for extension upto specifi~d
time limit, on sufficient cause being shown, then the period
of limitation prescribed under the special law shall prevail
and to that extent the provisions of the Limitation Act shall
stand excluded. As the intention of the legislature in · D
enacting sub-section (3) of Section 34 of the Act is that
the application for setting aside the award should be made
within three months and the period can be further
extended on sufficient cause being shown by another
period of 30 days but not thereafter, this Court is of the
opinion that the provisions of Section 5 of the Limitation E
Act would not be applicable because the applicability of
Section 5 of the Limitation Act stands excluded because
of the provisions of Section 29(2) of the Limitation Act.
[Para 10] [1126-C, D, E, F, G, H; 1127-A, B]
F
2.1 However, merely because it is held that Section 5
of the Limitation Act is not applicable to an application
filed under Section 34 of the Act for setting aside an award,
one need not conclude that provisions of Section 14 of
the Limitation Act would also not be applicable to an G
application submitted under Section 34 of the Act of 1996.
[Para 11] [1127-C, D]
2.2 The policy of Section 14 of the Act of 1996 is to
afford protection to a litigant against the bar.of limitation
when he institutes a proceeding which by reason of some H
1110 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 5 S.C.R.
A technical defect c_annot be decided on merits and is
dismissed. While considering the provisions of Section
14 of the Limitation Act, proper approach will have to be
adopted and the provisions will have to be interpret~d so
as to advance the cause of justice rather than abort the
B proceedings. It will be well to bear in mind that an element
of mistake is inherent in the invocation of Section 14. In
fact, the section is intended to provide relief against the
bar of limitation in cases of mistaken remedy or selection
of a wrong forum. On reading Section 14 of the Act it
C becomes clear that the legislature has enacted the said
section to exempt a certain period covered by a bona fide
litigious activity. Upon the words used in the section, it is
not possible to sustain the interpretation that the principle
underlying the said section, namely, that the bar of
limitation should not affect a person honestly doing his
D best to get his case tried on merits but failing because
the court is unable to give him such a trial, would not be
applicable to an application filed under Section 34 of the
Act of 1996. The principle is clearly applicable not only to
a case in which a litigant brings his application in the
E court, that is, a court having no jurisdiction to entertain it
but also where he brings the suit or the application in the
wrong court in consequence of bona fide mistake or law
or defect of procedure. Having regard to the intention of
the legislature this Court is of the firm opinion that the
F equity underlying Section 14 should be applied to its
fullest extent and time taken diligently pursuing a remedy,
in a wrong court, should be excluded. [Para 12] [1127-G;
1128-A, B, C, D, E]
2.3 On review of the provisions of the Act of 1996 this
G Court finds that there is no provision in the said Act which
excludes the applicability of the provisions of Section 14
of the Limitation Act to an application submitted under
Section 34 of the said Act. On the contrary, this Court finds
that Section 43 makes the provisions of the Limitation Act,
H. 1963 applicable to arbitration proceedings. The
MIS CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENT v. PRINCIPAL SECY. 1111
~ IRRIGATION DEPTT. & ORS.
proceedings under Section 34 are for the purpose of A
challenging the award whereas the proceeding referred
to under Section 43 are the original proceedings which
can be equated with a suit in a court. Hence, Section 43
incorporating the Limitation Act will apply ~o the
proceedings in the arbitr_ation as !t applies _to the 8
proceedings of a suit in the court. Sub-section (4) of
Section 43, ·inter alia, provides that where the court orders
that an arbitral award be set aside, the period between
the commencement of the arbitration and the date of the
order of the court shall be excluded in computing the time c
prescribed by the Limitation Act, 1963, for the
commencement of the proceedings with respect to the
dispute so submitted. If the period betwe~n the
commencement of the arbitration proceedings till the
award is set aside by the court, has to be excluded in
0
computing the period of limitation provided for any
proceedings with respect to the dispute, there is no good
reason as to why it should not be held that the provisions
of Section 14 of the Limitation Act would be applicable to
an application submitted under Section 34 of .the Act of
1996 more particularly where no provision is to be found E
in the Act of 1996, which excludes the applicability of
Section 14 of the Limitation Act, to an application made
under Section 34 of the Act. It is to be noticed that the
powers under Section 34 of the Act can be exercised by
the court only if the aggrieved party makes an application. F
The jurisdiction under Section 34 of the Act, cannot be
exercised, suo motu. The total period of four months
within which an application, for setting aside an arbitral
award, has to be made is not unusually long. Section 34
of the Act of 1996 would be unduly oppressive, if it is held G
thatthe provisions of Section 14 of the Limitation Act are
.., + not applicable to it, because cases are no doubt
conceivable where an aggrieved party, despite exercise
of due diligence and good faith, is unable to make an
application within a period of 4 months. From the scheme H
1.112 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 5 S.C.R
A and language of Section 34 of the Act of 1996, the intention
of the Legislature to exclude, the applicability of Section
14 of the Limitation Act, is not manifest. Section 14 of the
Limitation Act does not provide for a fresh period of
limitation but only provides for the exclusion of a certain
B period. Having regard to the legislative intent, it will have
to be held that the provisions of Section 14 of the t
Limitation Act, 1963 would be applicable to an application
submitted under Section 34 of the Act of 1996 for setting
aside an arbitral award. [Para 13] [1128-F, G, H; 1129-A-H; .
C 1130-A]
State of Goa vs. Western Builders (2006) 6 SCC 239 -
relied on.
Commissioner of Sa/es Tax, Uttar Pradesh vs. Parson
Tools and Plants, Kanpur 1975 (3) SCR 743 and Union of
D India vs. Popular Constructions Co. (2001) 8 SCC 470 -
distinguished.
3. Since it is held that Section 14 of the Limitation
Act, 1963 is applicable to an application filed under Section
34 of the Act, 1996 for setting aside an award made by an
E arbitrator, Civil Appeal No.2461 of 2008 fails because the
Division Bench of the High Court of Karnataka has in
terms held that there was no lack of bona fide on the part
of the respondents and that the respondents had
diligently prosecuted the matter before the other court and
F had also immediately after coming to know the lack of
jurisdiction of the court had filed the menio seeking
withdrawal of the appeal and presented the same before
the lower court which had the jurisdiction. [Para 17]
[1133-C, D, E]
G 4.1 As far as the Civil Appeal No.2462 of 2008 is
concerned, this Court finds that the view taken by the
High Court of Karnataka that the provisions of Sections
f -
12 and 14 of the Limitation Act, 1963 are applicable to the
proceedings under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act,
H 1996 is eminently just and is hereby upheld. However, this
M/S CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENT. v. PRINCIPAL SECY. 1113
IRRIGATION DEPTI. & ORS.
' ,)
Court finds it difficult to uphold the finding recorded by A
the Division Bench of the High Court that the appellant
had not prosecuted the matter in other courts with due
diligence and in good faith and was, therefore, not entitled
to exclusion of time taken in prosecuting the matter in
wrong courts. [Para 18] [1133-F, G, H] B
4.2 The record does not indicate that there was
pretended mistake intentionally made by the appellant
with a view to delaying the proceeding or harassing the
respondent. There was an honest doubt about the court
competent to entertain the application for setting aside c
the award made by the arbitrator. The mere fact that the
question of jurisdiction is an arguable one would not
negative good faith because the appellant believed bona
fide that the court in which it had instituted the proceeding
had jurisdiction in the matter. By filing the application in D
the courts which had no jurisdiction to entertain the same,
·( the appellant did not achieve anything more particularly
when the lis was never given up. Under the circumstances
this Court is of the opinion that the Division Bench of the
High Court of Karnataka was not justified in concluding E
that the appellant had not prosecuted the matter in other
courts with due diligence and in good faith. The said
finding being against the weight of evidence on record,
is liable to be set aside. [Para 19] [1135-C, D, E, F, G]
Per Raveendran, J. (Supplementing): F
-! 1. It is now well settled that the words 'appeals under
the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908' occurring in Article 116
of the Limitation Act refer not only to appeals preferred
under Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but also to appeals,
G
where the procedure for filing of such appeals and powers
of the court for dealing with such appeals are governed
by Code of Civil Procedure. [Para 4.4] [1139-D, E]
" Vidyacharan Shukla v. Khubchand Baghel - AIR 1964
SC 1099 - relied on. H
1114 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008) 5 S.C.R.
A 2. Arbitration & Conciliation Act (AC Act) is no doubt,
a special law, consolidating and amending the law relating
to arbitration and matters connected therewith or
incidental thereto. AC Act does not prescribe the period
of limitation, for various proceedings under that Act,
B except where it intends to prescribe a period different
from what is prescribed in the Limitation Act. On the
other hand, Section 43 makes the provisions of
Limitation Act, 1963 applicable to proceedings - both in
court and in arbitration - under the AC Act. There is also
C no express exclusion of application of any provision of
the Limitation Act to proceedings under AC Act, but there .
are some specific departures from the general provisions
of Limitation Act, as for example, the proviso to section
34(3) and sub-sections (2) to (4) of section 43 of the AC
Act. [Para 5] [1139-F, G; 1140-A]
D
3. Where the Schedule to the Limitation Act
prescribes a period of limitation for appeals or "
applications to any court, and the special or local law
provides for filing of appeals and applications to the court,
E but does not prescribe any period of limitation in regard
to such appeals or applications, the period of limitation
prescribed in the Schedule to the Limitation Act will apply
to such appeals or applications and consequently the
provisions of sections 4 to 24 will also apply. Where the
special or local law prescribes for any appeal or
F application, a period of limitation different from the period
prescribed by the Schedule to the Limitation Act, then the
provisions of section 29(2) will be attracted. In that event,
the provisions of section 3 of Limitation Act will apply, as
\if the period of limitation prescribed under the special law
G was .the period prescribed by the Schedule to Limitation
Act, and for the purpose of determining any period of
limitation prescribed for the appeal or application by the
special law, the provisions contained in sections 4 to 24 ~
wi-11 apply to the extent to which they are not expressly
H excluded by such special law. The object of section 29(2)
MIS CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENT. v. PRINCIPAL SECY. 1115
IRRIGATION DEPTT. & ORS.
• _A
is to ensure that the principles contained in sections 4 to. A
24 of Limitation Act apply to suits, appeals and.
applications filed in a court under special or local laws
also, even if it prescribes a period of limitation different
from what is prescribed in the Limitation Act, except to
the extent of express exclusion of the application of any B
or all of those provisions. So also the Limitation Act will
-~ not apply to appeals or applications before Tribunals,
unless expressly provided. [Para 6 & 7] [1140-B, C, D, E,
F, G; 1141-A]
4. The contention of the appellant that section 43 of c
the AC Act makes applicable the provisions of Limitation
Act only to arbitrations, thereby expressing an intent to
exclude the application to any proceedings relating to
arbitration in a court, ignores and overlooks section 29(2)
of the Limitation Act and section 43(1) of the AC Act. Sub- D
section (1) of section 43 of the Act provides that the
~
r Limitation Act shall apply to Arbitrations as it applies to
proceedings in court. The purpose of section 43 of AC Act
is not to make Limitation Act inapplicable to proceedings
before court, but on the other hand, make Limitation Act E
applicable to arbitrations. As already noticed, the
Limitation Act applies only to proceedings in court, and
but for the express provision in section 43, the Limitation
Act would not have applied to arbitration, as Arbitrators
are Private Tribunals and not courts. Section 43 of the AC F
Act, apart from making the provisions of Limitation Act,
1963 applicable to arbitrations, reiterates that Limitation
f
Act applies to proceedings in court. Therefore, the
provisions of Limitation Act, 1963 apply to all proceedings
under the AC Act, both in court and in arbitration, except
G
to the extent expressly excluded by the provisions of the
AC Act. [Para 8] [1141-B, C, D, E]
5.1 Sub-section (3) of section 34 of the AC Act
prescribes the period of limitation for filing an application
for setting aside an award as three months from the date H
1116 . SUPREME COURT REPORTS [200815 S.C.R.
.
A on which the applicant has received the arbitral award. "
The proviso thereto vests in the court, discretion to extend
the period of limitation by a further period not exceeding
thirty days if the court is satisfied that the applicant was
prevented by sufficient cause for not making the
B application within three months. The use of the words "but
not thereafter" in the proviso makes it clear that even if a
sufficient cause is made out for a longer extension, the
extension cannot be beyond thirty days. The purpose of
proviso to section 34(3) of AC Act is similar to that of
Section 5 of the Limitation Act which also relates to
c extension of the period of limitation prescribed for any
application or appeal. It vests a discretion in a court to
extend the prescribed period of limitation if the applicant
satisfies the court that he had sufficient cause for not
making the application within the prescribed period.
D Section 5 of Limitation Act does not place any outer limit
in regard to the period of extension, whereas the proviso
to sub-section 3 of section 34 of the AC Act places a limit
,, "
on the period of extension of the period of limitation. Thus
the proviso to sub-section 34(3) of the AC Act is also a.
E provision relating to extension of period of limitation, but
differs from section 5 of the Limitation Act, in regard to
period of extension, and has the effect of excluding
sectiOn 5 alone of the Limitation Act. [Para 12] (1144-C, D,
E, F, G, H]
F 5.2 Neither sub-section (3) of section 34 of the AC
Act nor any other provision of the AC Act exclude the
applicability of section 14 of the Limitation Act to
applications under section 34(1) of the AC Act. Nor will
the proviso to section 34(3) exclude the application of
G section 14, as section 14 is not a provision for extension
of period of limitation, but for exclusion of certain period
while computing the period of limitation. Having regard
to section 29(2) of Limitation Act, section 14 of that Act
will be applicable to an application under section 34(1) of
H the AC Act. Even when there is cause to apply section 14,
M/S CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENT. v. PRINCIPAL SECY. 1117
IRRIGATION DEPTT. & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.]
, ) the limitation period continues to be three months and A
not more, but in computing the limitation period of three
months for the application under section 34(1) of the AC
Act, the time during which the applicant was prosecuting ·
such application before the wrong court is excluded,
provided the proceeding in the wrong court was B
prosecuted bona fide, with due diligence. [Para 14)
,;
-t [1145-A, B, C, DJ
State of Goa vs. Western Builders (2006) 6 SCC 239 -
relied on.
Commissioner of Sales Tax, UP v. Parson Tools and
c
Plants, Kanpur (1975) 3 SCR 743, Union of India vs. Popular
Construction Co. (2001) 8 SCC 470 and Fairgrowth
Investments Ltd vs_ Custodian (2004) 11 SCC 472 -
distinguished.
D
5.3 In view of the above, it has to be held that section
14(2) of the Limitation Act, 1963 is applicable to
proceedings under section 34(1) of the AC Act. [Para 15]
[1148.F]
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. E
2461 of 2008.
From the final Judgment and Order dated 04.04.2005 of
the High Court of Karnataka at Bangalore in MFA. No. 4465 of
2003
F
WITH
C.A. No. 2462 of 2008.
y
R.F. Nariman, Joseph Poockatt. Nikhil Majithia, Prasahant
Kumar AS. Bhasme, Varun Thakur, Hage Lampu and Sanjay
R. Hegde for the appearing parties. G
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
J.M. PANCHAL, J.
~
Civil Appeal No.2461of 2008 @ SLP(C) N0.103111
2005. H
1118 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 5 S.C.R. ·
·,,.._ '
A Leave granted.
2. The instant appeal is directed against judgment dated
April 4, 2005 rendered by the Division Bench of the High Court
of Karnataka at Bangalore in Misc. First Appeal No.4465 of
2003, by which, decision dated October 24, 2002 passed by
B the learned District Judge, Bangalore Rural District, Bangalore
....
in A.S. No.2 of 2000 dismissing the application submitted by +
the appellant under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation
Act, 1996 (the Act' for short) as time .barred has been set aside
and the matter is remanded to the District Court with a direction
c to proceed further with the matter in accordance with law.
3. The appellant is an enterprise engaged in civil
engineering construction as well as development of
infrastructure. It entered into an agreement dated January 20,
1989 with the respondent for construction of earthen bund, head
D
sluices and the draft channel of the Y.G. Gudda tank. During the
subsistence of the contract, disputes arose between the parties. f
Therefore, the appellant invoked Arbitration clause No.51 of the '
agreement pursuant to which the disputes were referred to the
sole arbitrator for adjudication. The sole arbitrator .made his ·
E award on April 10, 1999 in favour of the appellant. Feeling
aggrieved by the said award, the respondents preferred an
application dated July 5, 1999 to set aside the award as
contemplated by Section 34 of the Act in the court of learned
Civil Judge (Senior Division), Ramanagram, Bangalore Rural
F District. The said application was registered as A.C. No.1 of
1999. It was realized by the respondents that an application for
';
setting aside the award should have been filed before the
learned Principal District Judge, Bangalore District (Rural).
Therefore, the respondents submitted an application on July 26,
G 2000 in the Court of learned Civil Judge (Senior Division),
Ramanagaram with a request to transfer the application made
for setting aside the award to the court of learned Principal
District Judge (Rural), Bangalore. The learned Civil Judge •
(Senior Division), Ramanagaram passed an order directing
H
M/S CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENT. v. PRINCIPAL SECY. 1119
IRRIGATION DEPTT. & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.]
... )
return of the suit records for presentation before the proper court. A
The respondents collected the papers from the court of learned
Civil Judge (Senior Division), Ramanagaram and presented
the same in the court of learned Principal District Judge,
Bangalore (Rural) on August 21, 2000. The present application
for setting aside the award, filed by the respondents, was B
numbered as A.S. No.2 of 2000. The District Court framed
t
preliminary issue for determination which was as under:
"Whether the defendant proves that the present suit is
barred by the limitation under Section 34(3) of the
Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996". c
The respondents examined one witness and produced
certain documents whereas on behalf of the appellants one
witness was examined. After appreciating the evidence and
hearing the learned counsel for the parties, the learned District
D
Judge held that the suit /application for setting aside the award,
... was time barred and dismissed the same by his judgment dated
1
October 24, 2002.
4. Th.ereupon the respondents invoked appellate
jurisdiction of the High Court of Karnataka at Bangalore by filing E
Misc. First Appeal No.4465 of 2003 under Section 37 of the
Act. The issue, namely, whether the provisions of Sections 12,
and 14 of the Limitation Act, 1963 are applicable to an
application filed under Section 34 of the Act was pending for
consideration in other matters also. The appeal filed by the F
respondents was, therefore, taken up for hearing with other
matters. The Division Bench of the High Court of Karnataka
was of the view that the learned District Judge, Bangalore Rural
District, Bangalore committed an error in holding that Section
14 of the Limitation Act was not applicable to an application
G
submitted under Section 34 of the Act and, therefore, the time
taken during which the respondents had been prosecuting in
... the court of learned Civil Judge (Senior Division),
Ramanagaram was not excludable. On facts, the High Court
held that there was no lack of bona fide on the part of the
H
1120 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 5 S.C.R.
A respondents and that the respondents had diligently prosecuted
..... -
the matter before the other court. In view of these conclusions,
the High Court by Judgment dated April 4, 2005 set aside the
decision dated October 24, 2002 rendered by the learned
District Judge Bangalore (Rural) in A.S. No.2 of 2000 and has
B directed the learned District Judge to proceed further with the
matter in accordance with law, giving rise to the instant appeal.
Civil Appeal No. 2462 of 2008 @ SLP(C) N0.15619/
2005.
c 5. Leave granted.
6. This appeal is directed against the judgment dated April
4, 2005 rendered by the Division Bench of the High Court of
Karnataka in W.P. No.7089 of 2003 by which it is held that
Sections 12 and 14 of the Limitation Act are applicable to and
D application submitted under Section 34 of the Act, but the
appellant is not entitled to exclusion of time as contemplated by
t .....
Section 14 of the Limitation Act, because the appellant had not
prosecuted application for setting aside the award made by
the arbitrator, in other courts, with due diligence and in good
E faith.
7. The appellant is a public sector undertaking of the
Government of Karnataka. It had invited tenders by way of public
notification for mining and transporting ore from Ajjanahalli mine
to lngaldal. The tender submitted by the respondent was
F accepted on May 10, 1999 and an agreement was entered into
between the parties. The respondent was directed to commence
the work from May 26, 1999 and to deploy required number of
vehicles etc. The respondent did not follow the instructions given
by the appellants and, therefore, disputes arose between the
G parties. The appellant and the respondent mutually agreed to
terminate the contract as per the clause mentioned in the
contract. The respondent made claim with respect to the works
done by it during the subsistence of the contract. The claim was
not accepted by the appellant. Therefore the dispute was
H . referred to the sole arbitrator for adjudication as stipulated by
M/S CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENT. v. PRINCIPAL SECY. 1121
~
:.) IRRIGATION DEPTT. & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.)
the contract. The arbitrator made his award on March 15, 2002. A
The appellant filed an application on June 6, 2002 in the court
of learned Civil Judge (Senior Division), Chitradurga to set aside
the award made by the arbitrator on the footing that the court of
learned Civil Judge (Senior Division) was the Principal Civil
Court of original jurisdiction in the District and that two other B
,.+
cases, namely, Arbitration Case No.1/97 and 1/2001 were also
pending in the court of learned Civil Judge (Senior Division),
Chitradurga. After sometime, .the appellant realized that the
appropriate court before which an application for setting aside
the award should have been made was the court of learned c
District Judge, Chitradurga. Therefore, the appellant filed an
application under order VII Rule 10A seeking prayer to return
the application to it for presentation before the District Court,
Chitradurga. The learned Civil Judge (Senior Division),
Chitradurga after hearing the learned counsel for the parties
D
' directed the appellant to present the application made under
t Section 34 of the Act before the District Court, Chitradurga by
an order dated October 29, 2002 and directed the parties to
appear before the learned District Judge on November 21,
2002. In view of the directions given by the learned Civil Judge
(Senior Division), Chitradurga the appellant presented the E
application filed under Section 34 of the Act before the Di~trict
Court Chitradurga on November 21, 2002. The respondent
raised a preliminary objection regarding jurisdiction of the
learned District Judge, Chitradurga to entertain the application
submitted under Section 34 of the Act on the ground that the F
·¥ agreement was entered into between the parties within the
jurisdiction of city of Bangalore and, therefore, the City Civil Court,
Bangalore had jurisdiction to entertain the application filed by
the appellant. The learned District Judge, Chitradurga by an
order dated February 3, 2003 held that he had no jurisdiction to G
entertain the application submitted by the appellant and
accordingly returned the application, for presentation before the
"' appropriate court. The appellant thereafter presented the
application for setting aside the award, before the Vlth Additional
City Civil Court, Bangalore on February 10, 2003 which was H
1122 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 5 S.C.R.
\.. -
A registered as an appeal. Along with the appeal, the appellant
also filed an application under Section 14 read with Section 5
of the Limitation Act and prayed to exclude the time taken in
prosecuting the proceedings bona fide before the two courts
which had no jurisdiction. The learned Judge of City Civil Court,
B Bangalore dismissed the application, as time barred, by an ..
order dated July 17, 2003. Thereupon the appellant invoked +
extra-ordinary jurisdiction of the High Court of Karnataka under
Article 226 of the Constitution by filing Writ Petition No. 7089 of
2003. The questions posed for consideration of the High Court
c was, whether the provisions of Sections 12 and 14 of the
Limitation Act were applicable to an application filed under
Section 34 of the Act and whether the appellant had prosecuted
the matter in other courts with due diligence and in good faith.
After hearing the learned counsel for the parties, the High Court
by Judgment dated April 4, 2005 held that the provisions of
D
Sections 12 and 14 of the Limitation Act are applicable to a
r
proceeding under the Act. However, on appreciation of facts -r
the High Court held that the appellant had not prosecuted the
matter in other courts, with due diligence and in good faith. In
view of the above-mentioned conclusion the High Court has
E dismissed the writ petition filed by the appellant vide Judgment
dated April 4, 2005, giving rise to the instant appeal.
8. This Court has heard the learned counsel for the parties
at length and in great detail as well as considered the documents
F submitted by the parties.
9. The question posed for consideration before the Court )
is whether the provision of Section 14 of the Limitation Act would
be applicable to an application submitted under Section 34 of
the Act of 1996 for setting aside the award made by the arbitrator.
G In order to resolve the controversy it would be advantageous to
refer to certain provisions of the Limitation Act and Section 34
of the Act of 1996. Section ·14 and relevant part of 29(2) of the
Limitation Act, necessary for the purpose of deciding the issue, .
read as under:
H
M/S CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENT. v PRINCIPAL SECY. 1123
IRRIGATION DEPTT. & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.]
- J
"14. Exclusion of time of proceeding bona fide in A
court without jurisdiction ..:.
(1) In computing the period of limitation for any suit the
time during which the plaintiff has been prosecuting with
ciue diligence another civil proceeding, whether in a court
B
.. ~
of first or of a appeal or revision, against the defendant
shall be excluded, where the proceeding relates to the
same matter in issue and is prosecuted in good faith in a
court which, from defect of jurisdiction or other cause of a
like nature, is unable to entertain it.
c
(2) In computing the period of limitation for any
application, the time during which the applicant has been
prosecuting with due diligence another civil proceeding,
whether in a court offirst instance or of appeal or revision,
against the same party for the same relief shall be
D
excluded, where such proceeding is prosecuted in good
' t faith in a court which, from defect of jurisdiction or other
cause of a like nature, is unable to entertain it.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in rule 2 of Order
XX.Ill of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5of1908), the E
provisions of sub-section. (1) shall apply in relation to a
fresh suit instituted on permission granted by the court
under rule 1 of that Order, where such permission is
granted on the ground that the first suit must fail by reason
of a defect in the jurisdiction of the court or other cause of F
a like nature.
Explanation-For the purpose of this section,-·
(a) in excluding the time during which a former civil
proceeding was pending, the day on which that
G
proceeding was instituted and the day on which it
ended shall both be counted.
+ (b) a plaintiff or an applicant resisting an appeal shall
be deemed to be prosecuting a proceeding.
H
1124 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 5 S.C.R.
\. -
A (c) misjoining of parties or of cause of action shall be
deemed to be a cause of a like nature with defect of
jurisdiction."
"29(2) Where any special or local law prescribes for any
suit, appeal or application a period of limitation different
B from the period prescribed by the Schedule, the provision
f
of section 3 shall apply as if such period were the period
prescribed by the Schedule and for the purpose of
determining any period of limitation prescribed for any
suit, appeal or application by any special or local law, the
c provisions contained in sections 4 to 24 (inclusive) shall
apply only in so far as, and to the extent to which, they are
not expressly excluded by such special or local law."
However, Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation
Act, 1996 reads as under:
D
"34. Application for setting aside arbitral award.- t '
(1) Recourse to a Court against an arbitral award may be
made only by an application for setting aside such award
in accordance with sub-section (2) and sub-section (3).
E
(2) An arbitral award may be set aside by the Court only
if-
(a) the party making the application furnishes proof that-
F (i) a party was under some incapacity; or
ii) the arbitration agreement is not valid under the law
to which the parties have subjected it or, failing any
indication thereon, under the law for the time being
in force; or
G
(iii) the party making the application was not given proper
notice of the appointment of an arbitrator or of the
arbitral proceedings or was otherwise unable to t
present his case; or
H (iv) the arbitral award deals with a dispute not
MIS CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENT. v. PRINCIPAL SECY. 1125
IRRIGATION DEPTT. & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.]
-j contemplated by or not falling within the terms of the A
submission to arbitration, or it contains decisions on
matters beyond the scope of the submission to
arbitration:
Provided that, if the decisions on matters submitted to
arbitration can be separated from those not so submitted, B
only that part of the arbitral award which contains decisions
.. -'!
on matters not submitted to arbitration may be set aside;
or
(v) the composition of the arbitral tribunal or the arbitral c
procedure was not in accordance with the agreement
of the parties, unless such agreement was in conflict
with a provision of this Part from which the parties
cannot derogate, or, failing such agreement, was not
in accordance with this Part; or
D
(b) the Court finds that-
i (i) the subject-matter of the dispute is not
capable of settlement by arbitration under
the law for the time being in force, or
E
(ii) the arbitral award is in conflict with the
· public policy of India.
Explanation- Without prejudice to the generality of sub-
clause (ii) of clause (b), it is hereby declared, for the
. avoidance of any doubt, that an award is in conflict with F
the public policy of India if the making of the award was
induced or affected by fraud· or corruption or was in
violation of section 75 of section 81.
(3) An application for setting aside may not be made after
G
three months have elapsed from the date on which the
party making that application had received the arbitral
~ward or, if a request had been made under section 33,
·> from the date on which that request had been disposed of
by the arbitral tribunal:
H
1126 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 5 S.C.R.
A Provided that if the Court is satisfied that the applicant "- '
was prevented by sufficient cause from making the
application within the said period of three months it may
· entertain the application within a further period of thirty
days, but not thereafter.
B (4) On receipt of an application under sub-section (1 ), the
Court may, where it is appropriate and it is so requested ~
by a party, adjourn the proceedings for a period of time
determined by it in order to give the arbitral tribunal an
opportunity to resume the arbitral proceedings or to take
c such other action as in the opinion of arbitral tribunal will
eliminate the grounds for setting aside the arbitral award."
10. A bare reading of sub-section (3) of Section 34 read
with the proviso makes it abundantly clear that the application
for setting aside the award on the grounds mentioned in sub-
D
section (2) of Section 34 will have to be made within three
months. The period can further be extended, on sufficient cause '
t
being shown, by another period of 30 days but not thereafter. It
means that as far as application for setting aside the award is
concerned, the period of limitation prescribed is three months
E which can be extended by another period of 30 days, on
sufficient cause being shown to the satisfaction of the Court.
Section 29(2) of the Limitation Act, inter alia provides that where
any special or local law prescribes for any suit, appeal or
application a period of limitation different from the period of
F limitation prescribed by the schedule, the provisions of Section
3 shall apply as if such period was the period prescribed by the
schedule and for the purpose of determining any period of
limitation prescribed for any suit, appeal or application by any
special or local law, the provisions contained in Sections 4 to
G 24 shall apply only insofar as, and to the extent, they are not
expressly excluded by such special or local law. When any
special statute prescribes certain period of limitation as well as
provision for extension upto specified time limit, on sufficient
cause being shown, then the period of limitation prescribed
H under the special law shall prevail and to that extent the
M/S CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENT. v. PRINCIPAL SECY. 1127
IRRIGATION DEPTT. & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.)
- J provisions· of the Limitation Act shall stand excluded. As the A
intention of the legislature in enacting sub-section (3) of Section
34 of the Act is that the application for setting aside the award
should be made within three months and the period can be
further extended on sufficient cause being shown by another
period of 30 days but not thereafter, this Court is of the opinion B
that the provisions of Section 5 of the Limitation Act would not
_,, be applicable because the applicability of Section 5 of the
Limitation Act stands excluded because of the provisions of
Section 29(2) of the Limitation Act.
11. However, merely because it is held that Section 5 of C
the Limitation Act is not applicable to an application filed under
Section 34 of the Act for setting aside an award, one need not
conclude that provisions of Section 14 of the Limitation Act would
also not be applicable to an application submitted under Section
34 of the Act of 1996. D
12. Section 14 of the Limitation Act deals with exclusion
of time of proceeding bona fide in a court without jurisdiction.
On analysis of the said Section, it becomes evident that the
following conditions must be satisfied before Section 14 can E
be pressed into service:
(1) Both the prior and subsequent proceedings are civil
proceedings prosecuted by the same party;
(2). The prior proceeding had been prosecuted with due
diligence and in good faith; F
(3) The failure of the prior proceeding was due to defect
of jurisdiction or other cause of like nature;
(4) The earlier proceeding and the latter proceeding must
relate to the same matter in issue and; G
(5) Both the proceedings are in a court.
The policy of the Section is to afford protection to a litigant
against the bar of limitation when he institutes a proceeding
which by reason of some technical defect cannot be decided H
1128 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008) 5 S.C.R.
...._ ~
A on merits and is dismissed. While considering the provisions
of Section 14 of the Limitation Act, proper approach will have to
be adopted and the provisions will have to be interpreted so as
to advance the cause of justice rather than abort the proceedings.
It will be well to bear in mind that an element of mistake is inherent
B in the invocation of Section 14. In fact, the section is intended to
provide relief against the bar of limitation in cases of mistaken
remedy or selection of a wrong forum. On reading Section 14 ;...
of the Act it becomes clear that the legislature has enacted the
said section to exempt a certain period covered by a bona fide
litigious activity. Upon the words used in the section, it is not
c possible to sustain the interpretation that the principle underlying
the said section, namely, that the bar of limitation should not
affect a person honestly doing his best to get his case tried on
merits but failing because the court is unable to give him such a
trial, would not be applicable to an application filed under Section
D
34 of the Act of 1996. The principle is clearly applicable not only
to a case in which a litigant brings his application in the court,
that is, a court having no jurisdiction to entertain it but also where
he brings the suit or the application in the wrong court in
consequence of bona fide mistake or law or defect of procedure.
E Having regard to the intention of the legislature this Court is of
the firm opinion that the equity underlying Section 14 should be
applied to its fullest extent and time taken diligently pursuing a
remedy, in a wrong court, should be excluded. '
F 13. At this stage it would be relevant to ascertain whether
there is any express provision in the Act of 1996, which excludes
the applicability of Section 14 of the Limitation Act. On review
t
of the provisions of the Act of 1996 this Court finds that there is
no provision in the said Act which excludes the applicability of
the provisions of Section 14 of the Limitation Act to an application
G
submitted under Section 34 of the said Act. On the contrary, this
Court finds that Section 43 makes the provisions of the
Limitation Act, 1963 applicable to arbitration proceedings. The
proceedings under Section 34 are for the purpose of challenging
the award whereas the proceeding referred to under Section
H
M/S CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENT. v. PRINCIPAL SECY. 1129
IRRIGATION DEPTT. & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.]
. .J
43 are the original proceedings which can be equated with a A
suit in a court. Hence, Section 43 incorporating the Limitation
Act will apply to the proceedings in the arbitration as it applies
to the proceedings of a suit in the court. Sub-section (4) of
Section 43, inter alia, provides that where the court orders that
an arbitral award be set aside, the period between the B
~
commencement of the arbitration and the date of the order of
the court shall be excluded in computing the time prescribed by
the Limitation Act, 1963, for the commencement of the
proceedings with respect to the dispute so submitted. If the
period between the commencement of the arbitration c
proceedings till the award is set aside by the court, has to be
excluded in computing the period of limitation provided for any
proceedings with respect to the dispute, there is no good reason
as to why it should not be held that the provisions of Section 14
of the Limitation Act would be applicable to an application
D
submitted under Section 34 of the Act of 1996 more particularly
t where no provision is to be found in the Act of 1996, which
excludes the applicability of Section 14 of the Limitation Act, to
an application made under Section 34 of the Act. It is to be
noticed that the powers under Section 34 of the Act can be
exercised by the court only if the aggrieved party makes an E
application. The jurisdiction under Section 34 of the Act, cannot
be exercised, suo motu. The total period offour months Within
which an application, for setting aside an arbitral award, has to
be made is not unusually long. Section 34 ofthe Act of 1996
would be unduly oppressive, if it is held that the provisions of F
Section 14 of the Limitation Act are not applicable to it, because
cases are no doubt conceivable where an aggrieved party,
despite exercise of due diligence and good faith, is unable to
make an application within a period of 4 months. From the
scheme and language of Section 34 of the Act of 1996, the G
intention of the Legislature to exclude, the applicability of Section
14 of the Limitation Act, is not manifest. It is well to remember
., that Section 14 of the Limitation Act does not provide for a fresh
period of limitation but only provides for the exclusion of a certain
period. Having regard to the. legislative intent, it will have to be H
1130 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 5 S.C.R.
"' .
A held that the provisions of Section 14 of the Limitation Act, 1963
would be applicable to an application submitted under Section
34 of the Act of 1996 for setting aside an arbitral award.
14. We may notice that in similar circumstances the
Division Bench of this Court in State of Goa vs. Western
B Builders 2006 (6) SCC 239 has taken a similar view. As
observed earlier the intention of the legislature in enacting
Section 14 of the Act is to give relief to a litigant who had
approached the wrong forum. No canon of construction of a
statute is more firmly established than this that the purpose of
C interpretation is to give effect to the intention underlying the
statute. The interpretation of Section 14 has to be liberal. The
language of beneficial provision contained in Section 14 of the
Limitation Act must be construed liberally so as to suppress the
mischief and advance its object. Therefore, it is held that the
D provisions of Section 14 of the Limitation Act are applicable to
an application submitted under Section 34 of the Act of 1996 t .
for setting aside an arbitral award.
15. The plea that in view of the decision rendered by three
E Judge Bench of this Court in Commissioner of Sales Tax,
Uttar Pradesh vs. Parson Tools and Plants, Kanpur 1975
(3) SCR 743 the provisions of Section 14 of the Limitation Act
should not be held to be applicable to an application filed under
Section 34 of the Act, has no substance. The question
determined in the Commissioner of Sales Tax, Uttar
F Pradesh (supra) was "whether under the circumstances of the
case, Section 14 of the Limitation Act extended the period for
filing of the revisions by the time during which the restoration
application remained pending as being prosecuted bona fide."
In the said case, Sales-Tax Officer had made two assessment
G orders. The assessee had filed appeals before the Appellate
Authority. The appeals were dismissed in default as the
assessee did not remain present on the specified date. The
assessee filed two applications for setting aside such dismissal,
under Rule 68(6) of the U.P. Sales Tax Rules. During the
H pendency of the application a Single Judge of Allahabad High
. I •
M/S CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENT. \t. PRINCIPAL SECY. 1131
IRRIGATION DEPTI. & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.]
Court declared Rule 68(5) of the Rules ultra vi res under which A
the appeals were dismissed for default. In view of the ruling of
High Court, the Appellate Authority dismissed the appeals. The
assessee, therefore, filed two revision petitions. They were filed
more than 18 months after the dismissal of the appeals. The
revisions were accompanied by two applications in which the B
assessee had prayed for exclusion of time spent by him in
presenting the aborting proceedings under Rule 68(6) for setting
aside the dismissal of his appeals. The revisional authority
excluded the time spent in those proceedings from computation
of limitation by applying Section 14 of the Limitation Act. The C
High Court dismissed the Reference made on the motion of the
Commissioner of Sales-Tax. In appeal, this Court held that (1) if
the legislature in a special statute prescribes a certain period
of limitation, then the Tribunal concerned has no jurisdiction to
treat within limitation, an application, by excluding the time spent
0
in prosecuting in good faith, on the analogy of Section 14(2) of
the Limitation Act and (2) the Appellate Authority and Revisional
Authority were not 'courts' but were merely administrative
Tribunals and, therefore, Section 14 of the Limitation Act did
not; in terms, apply to the proceedings before such Tribunals.
From the judgment of the Supreme Court iri Commissioner of E
Sales Tax, U.P. (supra), it is evident that essentially what
weighed with the Court in holding that Section 14 of the
Limitation Act was not applicable, was that the Appellate
Authority and Revisional Authority were not 'courts'. The stark
features of the revisional powers pointed out by the court, showed F
that the legislature had deliberately excluded the application of
the principles underlying Sections 5 and 14 of the Limitation
Act. Here in this case, the Court is not called upon to exmine
scope of revisional powers. The Court in this case is dealing
with Section 34 of the Actwhich confers powers on the Court of G
the first instance to set aside an award rendered by an arbitrator,
on specified grounds. It is not the case of the contractor that the
' forums before which the Government of India undertaking had
initiated proceedings for setting aside the arbitral award are
not 'courts'. In view of these glaring distinguishing features, this H
1132 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 5 S.C.R.
A Court is of the opinion that the decision rendered in the case of
Commission of Sales Tax, Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow (supra)
did not decide the issue which falls for consideration of this Court
and, therefore, the said decision cannot be construed to mean
that the provisions of Section 14 of the Limitation Act are not
B applicable, to an application submitted under Section 34 of the
Act of 1996.
16. The contention that in view of the decision of Division
Bench of this Court in Union of India vs. Popular
Constructions Co. 2001 (8) SCC 470 the Court should hold
C that the provisions of Section 14 of the Limitation Act would not
apply to an application filed under Section 34 of the Act, is devoid
of substance. In the said decision what is held is that Section 5
of the Limitation Act is not applicable to an application
challenging an award under Section 34 of the Act. Section 29(2)
D of the Limiation Act inter-alia provides that where any special
or local law prescribes, for any application, a period of limitation
different from the period prescribed by the schedule, the
provisions contained in Sections 4 to 24 shall apply only in so
far as, and to the extent to which, they are not expressly excluded
E by such special or local law. On introspection, the Division Bench
of this Court held that the provisions of Section 5 of the Limitation
Act are not applicable to an application challenging an award.
This decision cannot be construed to mean as ruling that the
provisions of Section 14 of the Limitation Act are also not
F applicable to an application challenging an award under Section
34 of the Act. As noticed earlier, in the Act of 1996, there is no
express provision excluding appliaation of the provisions of
Section 14 of the Limitation Act to an application filed under
Section 34 of the Act for challenging an award. Further, there is
G fundamental distinction between the discretion to be exercised
under Section 5 of the Limitation Act and exclusion of the time
provided in Section 14 of the said Act. The power to excuse
delay and· grant an extension of time under Section 5 is
discretionary whereas under Section 14, exclusion of time is
mandatory, if the requisite conditions are satisfied. Section 5 is
H
M/S CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENT. v. PRINCIPAL SECY. 1133
IRRIGATION DEPTT. & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.]
broader in its sweep, than Section 14 in the sense that a number A
of widely different reasons can be advanced and established
to show that there was sufficient cause in not filing the appeal or
the application within time. The ingredients in respect of Section
· 5 and 14 are different. The effect of Section 14 is that in order
to ascertain what is the da'te of expiration of the 'prescribed B
period', the days excluded from operating by way of limitation,
have to be added to what is primarily the period of limitation
prescribed. Having regard to all these principles, it is difficult to
hold that the decision in Popular Construction Co. (supra)
rules that the provisions of Section 14 of the Limitation Act would c
not'apply to an application challenging an award under Section
34 of the Act.
17. AS this Court holds that Section 14 of the Limitation
Act, 1963 is applicable to an application filed under Section 34
of the Act, 1996 for setting aside an award made by an arbitrator, D
the appeal arising from Special Leave Petition (C) No.10311
of 2005 will have to be dismissed because the Division Bench
of the High Court of Karnataka has in terms held that there was
no lack of bona fide on the part of the respondents and that the
respondents had diligently prosecuted the matter before the E
other court and had also immediately after coming to know the
lack of jurisdiction of the court had filed the memo seeking
yvithdrawal of the appeal and presented the same before the
lower court which had the jurisdiction.
18. As far as the appeal arising from Special leave Petition F
(C) No.15619 of 2005 is concerned, this Court finds that the
view taken by the High Court of Karnataka that the provisions of
Sections 12 and 14 of the Limitation Act, 1963 are applicable
to the proceedings under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act,
1996 is eminently just and is hereby upheld. However, this Court G
finds it difficult to uphold the finding recorded by the Division
Bench of the High Court that the appellant had not prosecuted
the matter in other courts with due diligence and in good faith
and was, therefore, not entitled to exclusion of time taken in
prosecuting the matter in wrong courts. H
1134 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 5 S.C.R.
A 19. To attract the provisions of Section 14 of the Limitation
Act, five conditions enumerated in the earlier part of this
Judgment have to co-exist. There is no manner of doubt that the
section deserves to be construed liberally. Due diligence and
caution are essentially pre-requisites for attracting Section 14.
B Due diligence cannot be measured by any absolute standards.
Due diligence is a measure of prudence or activity expected ~
from and ordinarily exercised by a reasonable and prudent
person under the particular circumstances. The time during
which a court holds up a case while it is discovering that it ought
c to have been presented in another court, must be excluded, as
the delay of the court cannot affect the due diligence bf the party.
Section 14 requires that the prior proceeding should have been
prosecuted in good faith and with due diligence. The definition
of good faith as found in Section 2(h) of the Limitation Act would
D indicate that nothing shall be deemed to be in good faith which
is not done with due care and attention. It is true that Section 14
will not help a party who is guilty of negligence, lapse or inaction.
However, there can be no hard and fast rule as to what amounts
to good faith. It is a matter to be decided on the facts of each
case. It will, in almost every case be more or less a question of
E degree. The mere filing of an application in wrong court would
not prima facie show want of good faith. There must be no
pretended mistake intentionally made with a view to delaying
the proceedings or harassing the opposite party. In the light of
these principles, the question will have to be considered whether
F the appellant had prosecuted the matter in other courts with due
diligence and in good faith. As is evident from the facts of the
case, initially the appellant had approached the court of learned
Civil Judge, Senior Division, Chitradurga for setting aside the
award made by the arbitrator. On direction dated October 29,
G 2002 issued by the learned Civil Judge (Senior Division),
Chitradurga, the appellant had presented the application for
setting aside the award before the learned District Judge,
Chitradurga. Before the learned District Judge, Chitradurga an
objection was raised by the respondent that the application was
H not maintainable before the said court and that the application
M/S CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENT. v. PRINCIPAL SECY. 1135
IRRIGATION DEPTT. & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.]
. j
was maintainable before the learned Judge, City A
Civil Court, Bangalore. The District Judge, Chitradurga by
an order dated February 3, 2003 held that it had no jurisdiction
to entertain the application submitted by the applicant and
accordingly returned the application for presentation before the
appropriate court. The question of jurisdiction was seriously B
contested between the parties not only before the court of learned
Civil Judge (Senior Division}, Chitradurga but also before the
learned District Judge, Chitradurga. The question of jurisdiction
had to be considered by the courts below because of
establishment of City Civil Court, Bangalore under a special C
enactment and in view of the definition of the word "court" as
given in Section 2(e) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
which means the principal civil court of original jurisdiction in a
district. The record does not indicate that there was pretended
mistake intentionally made by the appellant with a view to D
delaying the proceeding or harassing the respondent. There
was an honest doubt about the court competent to entertain the
application for setting aside the award made by the arbitrator.
The mere fact that the question of jurisdiction is an arguable
one would not negative good faith because the appellant E
believed bona fide that the court in which it had instituted the
proceeding had jurisdiction in the matter. By filing the application
in the courts which had no jurisdiction to entertain the same, the
appellant did not achieve anything more particularly when the
lis was never given up. Under the circumstances this Court is of F
the opinion that the Division Bench of the High Court of
Karnataka was not justified in concluding that the appellant had
not prosecuted the matter in other courts with due diligence and
in good faith. The said finding being against the weight o.f
evidence on record, is liable to be set aside and is hereby set G
aside. We, therefore, hold that the appellant had prosecuted
the matter in other courts with due diligence and in good faith
and, therefore, is entitled to claim exclusion of time in
prosecuting the matter in wrong courts. Therefore, the appeal
arising from SLP(C) No.15619 of 2005 will have to be allowed. H
1136 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 5 S.C.R.
A 20. For the foregoing reasons civil appeal arising from
SLP(C) No.10311 of 2005 fails and is dismissed. The judgment
rendered by the Division Bench of the High Court of Karnataka
on April 4, 2005, in W.P. No. 7089 of 2003 dismissing the
application filed by the appellant under Section 34 of the
B Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 for setting aside the award
of the arbitrator, is set aside, and civil appeal arising from
SLP(C) No.15619 of 2005, is allowed. The Division Bench of
the High Court of Karnataka is directed to proceed further with
the matter in accordance with law. There shall be no order as to
c costs in both the appeals.
RAVEENDRAN, J. I respectfully agree with the judgment
proposed by learned Brother Panchal, J. Having regard to the
importance of the issue, I am adding a few of my own reasons.
2. Two questions of law arise for our consideration :
D
(i) Whether Limitation Act, 1963 is inapplicable to a
proceeding in a court, under the Arbitration and Conciliation
Act, 1996 ?
(ii) Even if Limitation Act, 1963 is applicable, whether
E applicability of section 14 of the said Act is excluded to
proceedings under section 34(1) of the Arbitration and
Conciliation Act, 1996 ?
Re : Question No.(i) :
F 3. Learned counsel for the appellant contended that the
Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (AC Act for short) is a
self-contained Code relating to arbitration and all matters
incidental thereto including limitation. He submitted that section
34(3) of AC Act prescribes the period of limitation for an
G application for setting aside the arbitral award, when such period
can be extended and the limit to which it could be extended.
Section 43 of the AC Act makes the provisions of the Limitation
Act, 1963 ('Limitation Act' for short) applicable only to
proceedings in arbitration and not to proceedings in court.
H Therefore, the provisions of Limitation Act are inapplicable to
M/S CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENT. v. PRINCIPAL SECY. 1137
IRRIGATION DEPTT. & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.]
proceedings in a court under the AC Act. A
4. To decide this question, reference to the relevant
provisions of the AC Act and Limitation Act 1s necessary.
4.1) Part I of AC Act relates to arbitration. It contemplates
a party approaching a court in three circumstances : · B
(a) for grant of interim measures under section 9;
(b) for setting aside an arbitral award, under .section
34(1); and
(c) for filing appeals under section 37. c
As section 9 deals with applications for interim measures,
the question of limitation does not arise. In regard to applications
for setting aside an award under sub-section (1) of section 34,
sub-section (3) thereof prescribes a limitation of three months, 0
different from the period of one month prescribed in the Schedule
to the Limitation Act. Section 37 does not prescribe any period
of Limitation for filing appeals. If Limitation Act is inapplicable
to court proceedings under AC Act, there will be no limitation
for filing appeals under section 37. If Limitation Act is applicable, E
the p,~riod of Limitation for appeals filed under section 37 of
AC Act will be governed by Article 116 of the Schedule to the
Limitation Act.
4.2) Section 43 of the AC Act, relates to limitation and it is
extracted below : F
"43. Limitation. - (1) The Limitation Act, 1963 (36 of 1963),
-t shaU apply to arbitrations as it applies to proceedings in
Court.
(2) For the purposes of this section and the Limitation G
Act, 1963 (36 of 1963), an arbitration shall be deemed to
have commenced on the date referred in section 21.
(3) Where an arbitration agreement to submit future
· disputes to arbitration provides that any claim to which the
agreement applies shall be barred unless some step to H
1138 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008) 5 S.C.R.
A commence arbitral proceedings is taken within a time
fixed by the agreement, and a dispute arises to which the
agreement applies, the Court, if it is of opinion that in the
circumstances of the case undue hardship would otherwise
be caused, and notwithstanding that the time so fixed has
B expired, may on such terms, if any, as the justice of the
case may require, extend the time for such period as it
thinks proper.
(4) Where the court orders that an ar~itral award be set
aside, the period between the commencement of the
c arbitration and the date of the order of the Court shall be
excluded in computing the time prescribed by the Limitation
Act, 1963 (36 of 1963), for the commencement of the
proceedings (including arbitration) with respect to the
dispute so submitted."
D
Section 2(1 )(e) of the Act defines 'Court' as follows :
"2(1 )(e). 'Court' means the principal Civil Court of original
jurisdiction in a district, and includes the High Court in
exercise of its ordinary original civil jurisdiction, having
E jurisdiction to decide the questions forming the subject-
matter of the arbitration if the same had been the subject-
matter of a suit, but does not include any civil court of a
grade inferior to such principal Civil Court, or any Court of
Small Causes."
F 4.3) Let me next refer to the relevant provisions of Limitation
Act. Section 3 of the Limitation Act provides for the bar of
limitation. It provides that subject to the provisions contained in
sections 4 to 24 (inclusive), every suit instituted, appeal
preferred, and application made after the prescribed period
G shall be dismissed although limitation has not been set up as a
defence. 'Prescribed period' means that period of limitation
computed in accordance with the provisions of the Limitation
Act. 'Period of limitation' means the period of limitation
prescribed for any suit, appeal or application by the Schedule
H to the Limitation Act (vide section 20) of the said Act). Section
M/S CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENT. v. PRINCIPAL SECY. 1139
IRRIGATION DEPTI. & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.]
29 of Limitation Act relates to savings. Sub-section (2) thereof A
which is relevant is extracted below :
"29(2) Where any special or local law prescribes for any
suit, appeal or application a period of limitation different
from the period prescribed by the Schedule, the provisions
of Section 3 shall apply as if such period were the period B
_. prescribed by the Schedule and for the purposes of
determining any period of limitation prescribed for any
suit, appeal or application by any special or local law, the
provisions contained in sections 4 to 24 (inclusive) shall
apply only in so far as, and to the extent to which, they are c
not expressly excluded by such special or local law."
4.4) Article 116 of the Schedule prescribes the period of
.limitation for appeals to High Court (90 days) and appeals to
any other court (30 days) under the Code of Civil Procedure,
D.
1908. It is now well settled. that the words 'appeals under the
,. Code of Civil Procedure, 1908' occurring in Article 116 refer
not only to appeals preferred under Code of Civil Procedure,
1908, but also to appeals, where the procedure for filing of such
appeals and powers of the court for dealing with such appeals
are governed by Code of Civil Procedure (See decision of the E
Constitution Bench in Vidyacharan Shukla v. Khubchand
Baghe/ -AIR 1964 SC 1099). Article 119 (b) of the Schedule
prescribes the period of limitation for filing an application (under
Arbitration Act, 1940), for setting aside an award, as thirty days
from the date of service of notice of filing of the award. F
.Of
5. AC Act is no doubt, a special law, consolidating and
amending the law relating to arbitration and matters connected
therewith or incidental thereto. AC Act does not prescribe the
period of limitation, for various proceedings under that Act, G
except where it intends to prescribe a period different from what
is prescribed in the Limitation Act. On the other hand, Section
43 makes the provisions of Limitation Act, 1963 applicable to
... proceedings - both in court and in arbitration - under the AC
Act There is also no express exclusion of application of any
H
1140 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 5 S.C.R.
A provision of the Limitation Act to proceedings under AC Act,
but there are some specific departures from the general
provisions of Limitation Act, as for example, the proviso to
section 34(3) and sub-sections (2) to (4) of section 43 of the •
AC Act.
B 6. Where the Schedule to the Limitation Act prescribes a
period of limitation for appeals or applications to any court, and /.. ~
the special or local law provides for filing of appeals and
applications to the court, but does not prescribe any period of
limitation in regard to such appeals or applications, the period
c of limitation prescribed in the Schedule to the Limitation Act will
apply to such appeals or applications and consequently the
provisions of sections 4 to 24 will also apply. Where the special
or local law prescribes for any appeal or application, a period
of limitation different from the period prescribed by the Schedule
D to the Limitation Act, then the provisions of section 29(2) will be
attracted. In that event, the provisions of section 3 of Limitation ..
Act will apply, as if the period of limitation prescribed under the
special law was the period prescribed by the Schedule to' '
Limitation Act, and for the purpose of determining any period of
E limitation prescribed for the appeal or application by the special
law, the provisions contained in sections 4 to 24 will apply to the
extent to which they are not expressly excluded by such special
law. The object of section 29(2) is to ensure that the principles
contained in sections 4 to 24 of Limitation Act apply to suits,
F appeals and applications filed in a court under special or local
laws also, even if it prescribes a period of limitation different
from what is prescribed in the Limitation Act, except to the extent
of express exclusion of the application of any or all of those
provisions.
G 7. It may be noticed at this juncture that the Schedule to
the Limitation Act prescribes the period of limitation only to
proceedings in courts and not to any proceeding before a
Tribunal or quasi-judicial authority. Consequently section 3 and .(
section 29(2) of Limitation Act will not apply to proceedings
H before Tribunal. This means that the Limitation Act will not apply
M/S CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENT. v. PRINCIPAL SECY. 1141
IRRIGATION DEPTT. & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.)
to appeals or applications before Tribunals, unless expressly A
provided.
8. Learned counsel for the appellant contended that section
43 of the AC Act makes applicable the provisions of Limitation
Act only to arbitrations, thereby expressing an intent to exclude
the application to any proceedings relating to arbitration in a B
court. The contention of appellant ignores and overlooks section
29(2) of the Limitation Act and section 43(1) of the AC Act. Sub-
section (1) of section 43 of the Act provides that the Limitation
Act shall apply to Arbitrations as it applies to proceedings in
court. The purpose of section 43 of AC Act is not to make C
Limitation Act inapplicable to proceedings before court, but on
the other hand, make Limitation Act applicable to arbitrations.
As already noticed, the Limitation Act applies only to
proceedings in court, and but for the express provision in section
43, the Limitation Act would not have applied to arbitration, as D
Arbitrators are Private Tribunals and not courts. Section 43 of
the AC Act, apart from making the provisions of Limitation Act,
1963 applicable to arbitrations, reiterates that Limitation Act
applies to proceedings in court. Therefore, the provisions of
Limitation Act, 1963 apply to all proceedings under the AC Act, E
both in court and in arbitration, except to the extent expressly
excluded by the provisions of the AC Act.
Re : Question No.(ii) :
9. The learned counsel for the appellant next contended
that even if Limitation Act applied, section 14 is excluded by F
reason of the proviso to section 34(3) and at best, prosecution
before a wrong forum can be considered as a sufficient cause
for explaining the delay, in which event condonation cannot be
for a period in excess of 30 days. He submitted that sub-section
(3) of section 34 prescribes the period of limitation for an G
application to set aside an award as three months, and the
proviso thereto provides for extension of such period of limitation,
by a period not exceeding one month. He pointed out that the
l\ object of the AC Act is to expedite arbitration proceedings with
minimal judicial intervention as is evident from Section 5 of that H
1142 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 5 S.C.R.
>-
A Act. He further submitted that the legislature, while incorporating
a provision for extension of time for an application under section
34(1) of AC Act, on sufficient cause being shown, did not choose
to incorporate any provision for excluding the time spent before
a wrong court, and therefore, section 14 of the Limitation Act,
B 1963 is inapplicable; and even ifthe principle underlying section
14(2) of Limitation Act is held to be applicable, as a sufficient ...
cause for extension of the period of limitation, the extension on
that ground can be only for a period not exceeding thirty days
as provided in the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 34 of
c the AC Act. In support of the aforesaid contentions, reliance is
placed on the decisions of this Court in Commissioner of Sales
Tax, UP. v. Parson Tools and Plants, Kanpur [1975 (3) SCR
743], Union of India vs. Popular Construction Co. [2001 (8)
SCC 470) and Fairgrowth Investments Ltd vs. Custodian [2004
( 11) SCC 472). The appellant also contended that the decision
D rendered by two Judges Bench of this Court in State of Goa vs.
Western Builders [2006 (6) SCC 239) holding that section 14
of Limitation Act applied to applications under section 34 of the
AC Act was not good law as it failed to notice the earlier decision
of a larger Bench in Parson Tools and failed to follow Popular
E Construction.
10. The respondents, on the other hand, contended that
having regard to section 29(2) of the Limitation Act, provisions
of sections 4 to 24 of that Act would apply for determining the
period of limitation prescribed for an application under any f---
F special law, unless expressly excluded by such special law. The
AC Act, which is a special law, prescribes a period of limitation
for an application to set aside an award, different from what
was prescribed under the Limitation Act. It also excludes
application of section 5 of the Limitation Act to an application
G under section 34(1), by ma~ing an express provision in the·
proviso to section 34(3), for extension of period of limitation. t.-
Sections 4 and 6 to 24 of the Limitation Act would however apply
to an application under section 34(1) of the AC Act, as they are
not excluded. Respondents also contended that the question is
{
,.
H squarely covered by the decision of this Court in State of Goa v.
MIS CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENT. v. PRINCIPAL SECY. 1143
IRRIGATION DEPTT. & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.]
Western Builders [2006 (6) SCC 239]. They submitted that the A
decisions in Popi.liar Construction (supra) and Fairgrowth
(supra) are inapplicable, as they deal with section 5 and not
section 14 of the Limitation Act. They also contended that the
decision in Parson Tools did not relate to a proceeding before
a court, but a proceeding before a Tribunal. B.
11. Section 34 of AC Act relates to applications for setting
aside an arbitral award. Sub-section (1) provides that recourse
to a court against an arbitral award may be made only by an
application for setting aside such an award in accordance with
sub-sections (2) and (3). Sub-section 2 contains the grounds C
on which an arbitral award can be set aside. Sub-section (3)
which is relevant is extracted below :
"34(3). An application for setting aside may not be made
after three months have elapsed from the date on which D
the party making that application had received the arbitral
award or, if a request had been made under section 33,
from the date on which that request had been disposed of
by the arbitral tribunal:
Provided that if the Court is satisfied that the applicant E
was prevented by sufficient cause from making the
application within the said period of three months it may
entertain the application within a further period of thirty
days, but not thereafter."
11.1) Section 5 of Limitation Act, providing for extension F
of prescribed period in certain cases, reads thus:
"5.: Any appeal or any application, other than an application
under any of the provisions of Order XXI of the Code of
Civil Procedure, 1908, may be admitted after the G
prescribed period, if the appellant or the applicant satisfies
the court that he had sufficient cause for not preferring the
appeal or making the application within such period."
)()()()()(
H
1144 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 5 S.C.R.
A 11.2) Section 14 of Limitation Act relates to exclusion of
time of proceeding bona fide in c9urt without jurisdiction. Sub-
section (2) thereof relevant for our purpose is extracted below :
"14(2) In computing the period of limitation for any
application, the time during which the applicant has been
B prosecuting with due diligence another civil proceeding,
whether in a court of first instance or of appeal or revision,
against the same party for the same relief shall be
excluded, where such proceeding is prosecuted in good
faith in a court which, from defect of jurisdiction or other
c cause of a like nature, is unable to entertain it."
12. Sub-section (3) of section 34 of the AC Act prescribes
the period of limitation for filing an application for setting aside
an award as three months from the date on which the applicant
has received the arbitral award. The proviso thereto vests in
0
the court, discretion to extend the period of limitation by a further
period not exceeding thirty days if the court is satisfied that the
applicant was prevented by sufficient cause for not making the
application within three months. The use of the words "but not
thereafter" in the proviso makes it clear that even if a sufficient
E cause is made out for a longer extension, the extension cannot
be beyond thirty days. The purpose of proviso to section 34(3)
of AC Act is similar to that of Section 5 of the Limitation Act
which also relates to extension of the period of limitation
prescribed for any application or appeal. It vests a discretion in
F a court to extend the prescribed period of limitation if the
applicant satisfies the court that he had sufficient cause for not
making the application within the prescribed period. Section 5
of Limitation Act does not place any outer limit in regard to the
period of extension, whereas the proviso to sub-section 3 of
G section 34 of the AC Act places a limit on the period of extension
of the period of limitation. Thus the proviso to sub-section 34(3)
of the AC Act is also a provision relating to extension of period
of limitation, but differs from section 5 of the Limitation Act, in
regard to period of extension, and has the effect of excluding
H section 5 alone of the Limitation Act.
MIS CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENT. v. PRINCIPAL SECY. 1145
IRRIGATION DEPTT. & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.]
14. On the other hand, Section 14 contained in Part Ill of A
Limitation Act does not relate to extension of the period of
limitation, but relates to exclusion of certain period while
computing the period of limitation. Neither sub-section (3) of
section 34 of the AC Act nor any other provision of the AC Act
exclude the applicability of section 14 of the Limitation Act to 8
applications under section 34(1) of the AC Act. Nor will the
proviso to section 34(3) exclude the application of section 14,
as section 14 is not a provision for extension of period of
limitation, but for exclusion of certain period while computing
the period of limitation. Having regard to section 29(2) of c
Limitation Act, section 14 of that Act will be applicable to an
application under section 34(1) of the AC Act. Even when there
is cause to apply section 14, the limitation period continues to
be three months and not more, but in computing the limitation
period of three months for the application under section 34(1) D
of the AC Act, the time during which the applicant was
prosecuting such application before the wrong court is excluded,
provided the proceeding in the wrong court was prosecuted
bona fide, with due diligence. Western Builders therefore lays
down the correct legal position.
E
15. Reliance placed by the appellant on the decision of
three Judges of this Court in Parson Tools (supra) is totally
misplaced. That decision related to section 10(38) of the UP
Sales Tax Act, 1958 which provided a limitation period of one
year for invoking the revision al jurisdiction and further provided F
that the revising authority may on sufficient cause being shown,
entertain an application within a further period of six months.
The appellant contended that section 10(38) of the U.P.Sales
Tax Act considered in Parsons Tools is similar to proviso to
section 34(3) of the AC Act and therefore the following G
observations in Parson Tools, with reference to section 10(38)
of U.P.Sales Tax Act, making section 14(2) of the Limitation Act
inapplicable to a revision under section 10(38) of U.P.Sales
Tax Act, would also make section 14(2) inapplicable, to an
application under section 34(1) of the AC Act :
1146 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 5 S.C.R.
A "Three features of the scheme of the above provision are
noteworthy. The first is the no limitation has been
prescribed for the suo motu exercise of its jurisdiction by
the Revising Authority. The second is that the period of
one year prescribed as limitation for filing an application
B for revision by the aggrieved party is unusually long. The
third is that the Revising Authority has no discretion to
extend this period beyond a further period of six months,
even on sufficient cause shown. As rightly pointed out in
the minority judgment of the High Court, pendency of
c proceedings of the nature contemplated by section 14(2)
of the Limitation Act, may amount to a sufficient cause
for condoning the delay and extending the limitation for
filing a revision application, buts. 10 (3-8) of the Sales-
tax Act, gives no jurisdiction to the Revising Authority to
extend the limitation, even in such a case, for a further
D
period of more than six months."
"...... we are of the opinion that the object, the scheme
and language of s.10 of the Sales-Tax Act do not permit
the invocation of s.14(2) of the Limitation Act, either, in
E terms, or, in principle, for excluding the time spent in
prosecuting proceedings for setting aside the dismissal
of appeals in default, from computation of the period of
limitation prescribed for filing a revision under the Sales-
tax."
F {Emphasis supplied]
The said observations have to be read and understood
with reference to the issue that was being considered in that
case. In Parson Tools, this court did not hold that section 14(2)
was excluded by reason of the wording of section 10(3B) of the
G Sales Tax Act. This Court was considering an appeal against
the Full Bench decision of the Allahabad High Court. Two Judges
of the High Court had held that the time spent in prosecuting the
application for setting aside the order of dismissal of appeals
in default, could be excluded when computing the period of
H limitation for filing a revision under section 10 of the said Act, by
M/S CONSOLIDATED ENGG. ENT. v. PRINCIPAL SECY. 1147
IRRIGATION DEPTT. & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.]
application of the principle underlying section 14(2) of the A
Limitation Act. The minority view of the third Judge was that the
revisional authority under section 10 of the U P Sales Tax Act
did not act as a court but only as a Revenue Tribunal and
therefore the Limitation Act did not apply to the proceedings
before such Tribunal, and consequently neither section 29(2) B
nor section 14(2) of Limitation Act applied. The decision of the
·-"
Full Bench was challenged by the Commissioner of Sales Tax
before this Court, contending that the Limitation Act did not apply
to tribunals, and section 14(2) of Limitation Act was excluded in
principle or by analogy. This Court upheld the view that Limitation c
Act did not apply to Tribunals, and that as the Revisional Authority.
under section 10 of UP Sales Tax Act was a Tribunal and not a
court, Limitation Act was inapplicable. This Court further held
that the period of pendency of proceedings before the wrong
forum could not be excluded while computing the period of
D
limitation by applying section 14(2) of Limitation Act. This Court
however held that by applying the principle underlying section
'• >r
14(2), the period of pendency before the wrong forum may be
considered as a 'sufficient cause' for condoning the delay, but
then having regard to section 10(38), the extension on that
ground could not extend beyond six months. The observation E
that pendercy of proceedings of the nature contemplated by
section 14(2) of the Limitation Act, may amount to a sufficient
cause for condoning the delay and extending the limitation
and such extension cannot be for a period in excess of the
ceiling period prescribed, are in the light of its finding that section F
14(2) of Limitation Act was inapplicable to revisions under
,;,<.
section 10(38) of U.P.Sales Tax Act. These observations cannot
be interpreted as laying down a proposition that even where
section 14(2) of Limitation Act in terms applied and the period
spent before wrong forum could therefore.be excluded while G
computing the period of limitation, the pendency before the wrong
forum should be considered only as a sufficient cause for
extension of period of limitation and therefore, subjected to the
ceiling relating to the extension of the period of limitation. As
we are concerned with a proceeding before a court to which . H
1148 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 5 S.C.R.
A section 14(2) of Limitation Act applies, the decision in Parson
Tools which related to a proceeding before a tribunal to which
section 14(2) of Limitation Act did not apply, has no application.
15. The decision in Popular Construction is also of no
assistance. That decision makes it clear that AC Act, 1996 being
8 a special law, and section 34 thereof prescribing a period of
limitation different from that prescribed under the Limitation Act
and providing a ceiling on the period by which the period of
limitation could be extended, the corresponding provisions in
the Limitation Act prescribing the period of limitation for filing •
C an application for setting aside an award [Article 119(b) of the
Schedule to Limitation Act] and for extending the period of
limitation for sufficient cause (section 5 of the Limitation Act),
were inapplicable. It did not relate to applicability of section 14(2)
of Limitation Act. Nor did this Court consider the applicability of
D section 14(2). Therefore, the decision in Popular Construction
will not apply. Fairgrowth merely reiterates the principle in
Popular Construction in regard to the exclusion of section 5 of
Limitation Act, as is evident from the following observations :
" ... the general rule as far as special and local Acts are
E concerned is that the specified provisions including
Section 5 of the Limitation Act will apply provided the
special or local Act provides a period of limitation different
from that prescribed under the Limitation Act. There is an
additional requirement viz. that the special local Act does
F not expressly exclude the application of the Limitation Act."
Therefore it has to be held that section 14(2) of the
Limitation Act, 1963 is applicable to proceedings under section
34(1) of the AC Act.
G 16. I agree that the appeal arising from SLP (C) No.10311 I
2005 is to be dismissed and appeal arising from SLP (C)
No.15619/2005 is to be allowed.
G.N. Civil Appeal No. 2461 of 2008 dismissed and
Civil Appeal No. 2462 of 2008 allowed.
H
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