[BREAKING] Supreme Court relaxes limitation period to file cases till February 28, 2022

The Supreme Court on Monday relaxed the limitation period to file cases under all general and special laws across the country till February 28, 2022 in view of the spike in COVID-19 cases..A bench of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, Justices Surya Kant and L Nageswara Rao restored its March 23, 2020 order in this regard and said that period from March 15, 2020 till February 28, 2022, shall stand excluded for the purposes of limitation prescribed under any general or special laws in respect of all judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings..The order was passed pursuant to a plea by the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) seeking suspension of the limitation period in view of the surge in COVID-19 cases across the country.Many High Courts and the Supreme Court have gone into full virtual mode of functioning with limited hearings due to COVID surge..The following are the directions issued by the Court: - The order dated 23.03.2020 is restored and in continuation of the subsequent orders dated 08.03.2021, 27.04.2021 and 23.09.2021, it is directed that the period from 15.03.2020 till 28.02.2022 shall stand excluded for the purposes of limitation as may be prescribed under any general or special laws in respect of all judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings.- Consequently, the balance period of limitation remaining as on 03.10.2021, if any, shall become available with effect from 01.03.2022. - In cases where the limitation would have expired during the period between 15.03.2020 till 28.02.2022, notwithstanding the actual balance period of limitation remaining, all persons shall have a limitation period of 90 days from 01.03.2022. In the event the actual balance period of limitation remaining, with effect from 01.03.2022 is greater than 90 days, that longer period shall apply. - It is further clarified that the period from 15.03.2020 till 28.02.2022 shall also stand excluded in computing the periods prescribed under Sections 23 (4) and 29A of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, Section 12A of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015 and provisos (b) and (c) of Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 and any other laws, which prescribe period(s) of limitation for instituting proceedings, outer limits (within which the court or tribunal can condone delay) and termination of proceedings..The SCAORA had sought restoration of the March, 2020 order of the top court whereby the Court had taken up the issue suo motu, directing the suspension of the limitation period in view of the difficulties faced by litigants in approaching the Courts amidst the COVID-19 pandemic..On March 23, 2020, the Supreme Court had directed the suspension of the limitation period running under all general and special laws, with effect from March 15, 2020, in view of the difficulties faced by the litigants in approaching the courts amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.Thereafter, the said order was extended from time to time.However, on March 8, 2021, the Court had recalled that order after a dip in COVID cases.But the devastating second wave had hit and SCAORA had then approached the Supreme Court seeking suspension of limitation periods in view of the surge.The Supreme Court had then on April 27, 2021, ordered that the limitation period be extended..However, this extension also came to an end on October 2, 2021 after the COVID cases dipped.The SCAORA moved the top court again last week to revive the March 2020 order in view of surge in COVID cases and impending third wave..[Read Order]