In Brief
An airline customer sued British Airways for cargo damage beyond the two-year period specified in Rule 30 of the Carriage by Air Act, 1972. The key issue was whether India's Limitation Act, 1963 could extend the period by tolling or suspending it. The Supreme Court held that Rule 30 expressly extinguishes the right to damages itself (not merely the remedy) after two years. Therefore, the Limitation Act does not apply. The Court examined the legislative history of the Warsaw Convention and found international consensus that the two-year period was meant to be absolute and free from any jurisdiction's domestic tolling provisions. The appeal was dismissed, affirming the High Court's decision that the suit was barred.
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