In Brief

During the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020, the Supreme Court issued a suo moto order extending all limitation periods prescribed under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (Section 29A) and the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (Section 138). The extension took effect from 15 March 2020 and continued till further Court orders. For cases where limitation had already expired after 15 March, the Court granted an additional 15-day extension after the lockdown was lifted in the relevant jurisdictional area. This measure ensured litigants and lawyers could exercise their rights without the pressure of meeting deadlines during the pandemic.

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