IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NO.5008 OF 2008 (Arising out of S.L.P. (C) No.18475 of 2006)

Ajit Dodagouda Patil        ...Appellant(s)

Versus

Sunderam Finance Limited       ...Respondent(s)

O  R  D  E  R

Heard learned counsel for the parties.

Leave granted.

After  some  arguments,  learned  counsel  appearing  on  behalf  of  the

appellant  sought  permission  to  withdraw   the  complaint  filed  before  the  District

Consumer  Disputes  Redressal  Forum  [for  short,  “District  Forum”]  under  the

Consumer  Protection  Act,  1986,  because  this  Court  expressed  the  view  that  such

complaint  was  not  maintainable.   The  prayer  made on  behalf  of  the  appellant  is

granted  with  liberty  to  him  to  move  appropriate  civil  court  by  filing  properly

constituted suit.  

Since the  appellant was bonafide prosecuting the case before consumer

fora, which did not have jurisdiction to entertain the complaint,  we direct  that, if

along with the

plaint an application under Section 14 of the Limitation Act is

...2/-

- 2 -  

is filed, then the time spent in prosecuting the complaint, i.e., time taken from the date

of filing of the complaint till this date shall be excluded for the purpose of computing

the period of limitation.   

In the result,  the orders passed by the District Forum, State Consumer

Disputes  Redressal  Commission  and  National  Consumer  Disputes  Redressal

Commission are set aside and the appellant is allowed to withdraw the complaint with

liberty enumerated above.   

The civil appeal is, accordingly, disposed of.

......................J.       [B.N. AGRAWAL]

......................J.       [V.S. SIRPURKAR]

......................J.       [G.S. SINGHVI]

New Delhi, August 07, 2008.