http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 1 of 24  

                                                        REPORTABLE

                IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

                CIVIAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

              CIVIL APPEAL NO. 3498          OF 2008               (Arising out of SLP (C) No.12778 of 2007)

State of M.P. and another                                .... Appellants

           Versus

Anshuman Shukla                                          .... Respondent

                           JUDGMENT

S.B. SINHA, J.

1.    Leave granted.

2.    Applicability of Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963 (for short

the 1963 Act) in the matter of entertaining a revision application before

the High Court in terms of Section 19 of the Madhya Pradesh

Madhyastham Adhikaran Adhiniyam, 1983 (for short the Act) is

involved in this appeal which arises out of a judgment and order dated

30th June, 2005 passed by a Full Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court at

Jabalpur in Civil Revision No.1330 of 2003.

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 2 of 24  

                                    2

3.    Before embarking on the said question we may notice the statutory

provisions of the Act for resolution of the legal issue.

     The Act came into force with effect from 1st March, 1985. It was

enacted to provide for the establishment of a Tribunal to arbitrate on

disputes to which the State Government or a Public Undertaking (wholly

or substantially owned or controlled by the State Government), is a party,

and for matters incidental thereto or connected therewith.

     The Arbitral Tribunal is constituted in terms of Section 3 of the

Act for resolving all disputes and differences pertaining to works

contract or arising out of or connected with execution, discharge or

satisfaction of any such works contract.

     Section 7 provides for reference to Tribunal. Such reference may

be made irrespective of the fact as to whether the agreement contains an

arbitration clause or not. Section 7-A provides for the particulars on the

basis whereof the reference petition is to be filed.

     Section 7-B provides for limitation for filing an application, which

is in the following terms :-

            "7-B. Limitation.- (1) The Tribunal shall not admit a              reference petition unless - (a) the dispute is first referred for the decision of the final authority     under the terms of the works contract; and

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 3 of 24  

                                3

(b) the petition to the Tribunal is made within one year from the     date of communication of the decision of the final authority :

              Provided that if the final authority fails to decide             the dispute within a period of six months from the             date of reference to it, the petition to the Tribunal             shall be made within one year of the expiry of the said             period six months.

           (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-             section (1), where no proceeding has been             commenced at all before any Court proceeding the             date of commencement of this Act or after such             commencement but before the commencement of the             Madhya      Pradesh      Madhyastham       Adhikaran             (Sanshodhan) Adhiniyam, 1990, a reference petition             shall be entertained within one year of the date of             commencement of Madhya pradesh Madhyastham             Adhikarn (Sanshodhan) Adhiniyam, 1990 irrespective             of the fact whether a decision has or has not been             made by the final authority under the agreement.

           (2-A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-             section (1), the Tribunal shall not admit a reference             petition unless it is made within three years from the             date on which the works contract is terminated,             foreclosed , abandoned or comes to an end in any             other manner or when a dispute arises during the             pendency of the works contract :

                 Provided that if a reference petition is filed by             the State Government, such period shall be thirty             years."

4.    Chapter IV of the Act contains Sections 16 to 18. Section 16 deals

with passing of an award by the Tribunal and/or its Benches. Section 17

gives finality to the award made thereunder. Such awards made, in terms

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 4 of 24  

                                  4

of Section 18 would be deemed to be a decree within the meaning of

Section 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. Section 19 confers a

power of revision on the High Court, sub-section (1) whereof reads as

under :-

           "19. High Court’s power of revision. - (1) The High             Court may suo motu at any time or on an application             for revision made to it within three months of the             award by an aggrieved party, call for the record of any             case in which an award has been made under this Act             by issuing a requisition to the Tribunal and upon             receipt of such requisition, the Tribunal shall send or             cause to be sent to that Court the concerned award             and record thereof :

                 Provided that any application for revision may             be admitted after the prescribed period of three             months, if the applicant satisfies the High Court that             he had sufficient cause for not preferring the revision             with such period.

                  Explanation. - the fact that the applicant was             misled by any order, practice or judgment or the High             Court in ascertaining or computing the prescribed             period may be sufficient cause within the meaning of             this sub-section."

5.    We may notice that the proviso thereto had been appended by the

M.P. Act No. 19 of 2005.

6.    The State of M.P. filed a revision application before the High

Court. It was barred by 80 days.

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 5 of 24  

                                   5

7.    A question as to whether the High Court could have condoned the

delay or not came up for consideration before a Division Bench of the

said Court in Nagarpalika Parishad, Morena vs. Agrawal Construction

Co. : 2004 (II) MPJR 374. It was held therein that the provisions of

Section 5 of the 1963 Act being not available, the delay cannot be

condoned.

8.    Reference was thereafter made to a Full Bench in the light of the

decision rendered by this Court in Mukri Gopalan         vs.   Cheppilat

Puthanpurayil Aboobacker       (1995) 5 SCC 5.     In the meantime the

decision in Nagar Palika Parishad, Morena (supra) came up for

consideration before this Court. The decision of the Division Bench was

affirmed by this Court stating :-

            "Heard Mr. Sushil Kumar Jain, learned counsel for              the petitioner at length.

            In our view there is no infirmity in the impugned              judgment. The authority in the case of Nasiruddin and              others vs. Sita Ram Agarwal reported in (2003) 2              SCC 577 has been correctly followed. Same view has              also been taken by this Court in the case of Union of              India    vs. Popular Construction Co. reported in              (2001) 8 SCC 470.

            The Special Leave Petition stands dismissed with no              order as to costs."

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 6 of 24  

                                6

9.    In the meanwhile the matter was referred again for consideration

by a larger Bench which included the question as to whether the decision

of this Court in regard to the dismissal of the special leave petition

constitutes a binding precedent. The questions referred for decisions of

the larger Bench were :-

           "(a) Whether the power of High Court for exercise             of revisional jurisdiction under Section 19 of M.P.             Madhyasthm Adhikaran Adhiniyam, 1983 is totally             constricted and restricted to a period of three months             of the passing of the award which is the limitation             prescribed for an aggrieved party or it can exercise             such power of revision suo motu within a reasonable             period of time that can travel beyond here months?

           (b) Whether the decision tendered in the case of             Nagarpalika Parishad vs. Agrawal Construction Co.             2004 (2) MPJR 374 would be a binding precedent?"

10.   The Constitution Bench found that the decision of this Court in

Nagarpalika Parishad (supra) constitutes a binding precedent and it was

bound thereby.

     It was held that Section 5 of the Limitation Act has no application

to a revision application filed before the High Court under Section 19 of

the Act.

11.   Mr. S.K. Dubey, learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of the

appellants, would submit that the Arbitration Tribunal being a Court, in

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 7 of 24  

                                  7

view of the provisions contained in sub-section (2) of Section 29 of the

Limitation Act, the High Court committed a serious error in opining that

it did not have any power to condone the delay.

12.   The Act is a special Act. It provided for compulsory arbitration. It

provides for a reference. The Tribunal has the power of rejecting the

reference at the threshold.

     It provides for a special limitation. It fixes a time limit for passing

an Award. Section 14 of the Act provides that proceeding and the award

can be challenged under special circumstances. Section 17, as noticed

hereinbefore, provides for finality of the award, notwithstanding

anything to the contrary contained in any other law relating to arbitration.

13.   The High Court exercises a limited power. The revisional power

conferred upon the High Court is akin to Section 115 of the Code of

Civil Procedure. It has the power to decide as to whether the Tribunal

has misconducted itself or the proceedings or has made an award which

is invalid in law or has been improperly procured by any party to the

proceedings.

14.   As noticed heretobefore the proviso appended to Section 19 was

added by M.P. Act No.19 of 2005. Prior thereto the High Court, even at

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 8 of 24  

                                  8

the instance of a party, despite expiry of the period of limitation could

have exercised its suo motu jurisdiction.

15.   It is a trite law that provisions of the Limitation Act, 1963 shall

apply to a Court. It has no application in regard to a Tribunal or personal

designata. There exists a distinction between a Court and the Tribunal.

16.   The very fact that the authorities under the Act are empowered to

examine witnesses after administering oath to them clearly shows that

they are ’Court’ within the meaning of the Evidence Act. It is relevant to

refer to the definition of ’Court’ as contained in Section 3 of the Indian

Evidence Act which reads as follows :-

            ’Court’ includes all Judges and Magistrates, and all              persons, except arbitrators, legally authorised to take              evidence.

The Tribunal has been confirmed various powers.

     There, therefore, in our opinion, cannot be any doubt whatsoever

that the authorities under the Act are also ’courts’ within the meaning of

the provisions of the Indian Evidence Act.

17.   The definition of ’Courts’ under the Indian Evidence Act is not

exhaustive (See The Empress vs. Ashootosh Chuckerbutty and others :

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 9 of 24  

                                  9

ILR (4) Cal. (15) 483 (FB). Although the said definition is for the

purpose of the said Act alone, all authorities must be held to be courts

within the meaning of the said provision who are legally authorised to

take evidence. The word ’Court’ under the said Act has come up for

consideration at different times under the different statutes.

18.   The Commissioner who has been authorised to take evidence of

the witnesses has been held to be a court (See          Jyoti Narayan    vs.

Brijnandan Sinha : AIR 1954 Patna 289). The Rent Controller has been

held to be a court (See G. Bulliswamy vs. Smt. C. Annapurnamma :

AIR 1976 Andhra Pradesh 270. The Election Tribunals have been held

to be courts (See Prem Chand vs. Sri O.P. Trivedi and others : AIR

1967 All. L.J. 5 at page 7). Coroners before whom evidence can be

adduced have been held to be courts (See               Tanajirao Martinrao

Kadambande vs. H.J. Chinoy : 71 Bombay Law Reporter 732.

     In Brijnandan Sinha vs. Jyoti Narain : AIR 1956 SC 66 it has been

held that any Tribunal or authority whose decision is final and binding

between the parties is a court. In the said decision, the Supreme Court,

while deciding a case under Court of Enquiry Act held that a court of

enquiry is not a court as its decision is neither final nor binding upon the

parties. In Vindar Kumar Satya vs. State of Punjab : AIR 1956 SC 153

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 10 of 24  

                                  10

the Supreme Court has made a broad distinction of a court and quasi

judicial Tribunal. In the Sitamathi Central Co-operative Bank Ltd. vs.

Jugal Kishore Sinha : AIR 1965 Pat 227 a Division Bench of the Patna

High Court has held that Assistant Registrars appointed under the Bihar

and Orissa Cooperative Societies Act to be courts. In the said decision,

this Court has held that, when a question arises as to whether the

authority constituted under a particular Act exercising judicial or quasi

judicial power is a court or not, then the following tests must be fulfilled

before the said authority can be termed as a court :

            "(a) the dispute which is to be decided by him must be              in the nature of a civil suit :

            (b) the procedure for determination of such dispute              must be judicial procedure ; and

            (c) the decision must be a binding nature."

     The aforementioned judgment has been affirmed by the Supreme

Court in the case of Thakur Jugal Kishore Sinha vs. Sitamarhi Central

Coop. Bank Ltd. : AIR 1967 SC 1494

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 11 of 24  

                                  11

     In Chandra Kishore Jha vs. State of Bihar : 1975 BBCJ 656, a

Division Bench of the Patna High Court has held the the Compensation

Officer acting under the Bihar Land Reforms Act, 1950, to be a court as

the said officer exercises judicial power deciding civil dispute and pass

an order which is final and binding between the parties. In S.K. Sarkar,

Member, Board of Revenue, U. P., Lucknow vs. Vinoy Chandra Misra :

(1981) 1 SCC 436 the Board of Revenue has been held to be a court

subordinate to the High Court for the purpose of the provisions of the

Contempt of Court Act.

19.   However, in The Bharat Bank Ltd., Delhi vs. The Employees of

the Bharat Bank Ltd., Delhi AIR 1950 (SC) 188 it has been held that a

’Labour Court’ although has all the trappings of the Court but still is not a

court in technical sense. In Sakuru vs. Tanaji : (1985) 3 SCC 590, the

Supreme Court has held that the statutory authorities did not come within

the purview of the definition of courts for the purpose of Section 5 of the

Limitation Act.

20.   In K.P. Verma vs. State of Bihar : 1988 PLJR 1036, which arose

out of a case under the Bihar Administrative Tribunal Act, a Division

Bench of the Patna High Court held as under :-

            "32. The modern sociological condition as also the              needs of the time have necessitated growth of

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 12 of 24  

                                12

          administrative law and administrative law tribunal.            Executive functions of the State calls for exercise of            discretion and judgment also and not a mere dumb            obedience of the orders so that the executive also            forms quasi-judicial and quasi legislative functions            and, in this view of the matter, the administrative            adjudication has become as indispensable part of the            modern state activity. However, judicial process            differs from administrative adjudicative process.            Sometime administrative adjudication is understood            as the same thing as administration of justice, though            both the terms relate to deciding upon disputes yet            over the years a great many difference have been            noticed in them which may be placed in the table as            under :-

                           Judicial Adjudication

1.   In this the disputes are decided by the persons specially      trained in law. 2.   The Courts normally cannot move a matter by themselves,      eg. suo moto. 3.   The Courts are bound by earlier precedents and settled      principles of Law. 4.   The Courts decisions are objective. 5.   Normally only the parties directly interested ino the lis take      part in it. 6.   The Law provides many safeguards against the arbitrary      decisions of the Courts in the shape of procedures , appeals,      revisions, reviews, etc. etc., 7.   The judgments must be given with detailed reasons by the      Courts. 8.   Judges enjoy a legal immunity from responsibility of acts      done in discharge of their duties and their conduct cannot be      a subject of discussion in any form, even in Parliament. 9.   The Laws of evidence and other principles of Common Law      are fully applicable to the Courts.

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 13 of 24  

                                13

10.   The justice in courts is without ‘biss’ or ‘affection or ill       will."

                       Administrative Adjudication

                 In this the disputes are decided by the persons             having administrative experience.                  The administrators may initiate action by             themselves.                   The administrators may decide each case on its             merits.                   The decisions of administrators are usually             subjective.                    In this even other citizens may appear in the             interest of public.                    In administrative adjudication, normally the             decisions are final and there is a much greater scope             for arbitrary decisions of the adjudicators.                    The administrative adjudicators may pass even             cryptic non speaking orders.                   This is not so normally in case of Tribunals             unless the law incorporating them may provide.                    The Tribunals are not bound by any such law             and need to follow only the principles of Natural             Justice.                   These have to apply the special policy and thus             cannot view things with that ‘Cold neutrality of the             impartial judge’

           (Schwarts in American Administrative Law. P. 61) "

                  Dr. Durga Das Basu in his Administrative Law,             Second Edition, at page 280 has also given broad             features which characterise a ‘Court’.

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 14 of 24  

                    14

      However, this broad distinction may not be held to be applicable as how in India apart from the Administrative Tribunals pure and simple as in the United Kingdom or the United States of America, various special Tribunals are being constituted, and that although they are not regular ‘courts’ and have judicial authorities but have all the trappings of the Court. The number of such Tribunals is on the increase owing to the welfare role taken up by the State under our Constitution, as such so that "the number of Indian statutes which constitute administrative authorities, purely administrative and quasi judicial, is legion." (See Durga Das Basu, Administrative Law, 2nd Edition at page 285).

            "Although in its constitution, it is a       Tribunal as the source of authority is by reason       of a statutory provision and it is empowered by       the statutory provisions to exercise any       adjudicating power of the State. (See A.P.H.L.       Conf. vs. Sangma, A. 1977 S.C. 2155 (2163),       e.g. the Election Commission, deciding       disputes as to Party Symbols (ibid); the       settlement Commision under s. 2451 of the       Income-tax Act (C.I.T. v. Bhattacharya, A.       1979 S.C. 1724); Arbitrator appointed under s.       10A of the Industrial Disputes Act (Gujarat       Steel Tubes vs. Mazdoor Union, A. 1980 S.C.       1896) ; The Central Government, exercising       powers under s. 111 (3) of the Companies Act       (Harinagar Sugar Mills vs. Shyam Sundar, A.       1961 S.C. 1669 (1679)."        In this connection, it may further be necessary to bear in mind that the root of the word "Tribunal" is Tribunal which is a Latin word meaning a raised platform on which the seats of the tribunes or the magistrates are placed. Thus, all courts are tribunals but all tribunals are not courts.

    However, there cannot be any doubt that these administrative tribunals or the     administrative

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 15 of 24  

                    15

tribunals or the administrative courts are authorities outside the ordinary Court system which interpret and apply the laws when acts of public administration are attacked in formal suits or by other established methods. In essence the Administrative Tribunals may be called a specialized court of law, although it does not fulfil the criteria of a law court as is understood inasmuch as it cannot like an ordinary law court entertain suits on various matters, including the matter relating to the vires of legislation. However, such a Tribunal like ordinary law courts, as found hereinbefore, are bound by the rules of evidence and procedure as laid down under the law and are required to decide strictly, as per the law.

      O. Hood Phillips and Paul Jackson in O. Hood Phillips’ Constitutional and Administrative Law, Sixth Edition, at page 575 observed as follows. -

           "Administrative        Jurisdiction"   or       "Administrative Justice" is a name given to       various ways of deciding disputes outside the       ordinary courts. It is not possible to define       precisely what bodies constitute the "ordinary       courts" although this expression was used in       the Tribunals and Inquiries Acts 1958 and       1971. There are some bodies that might be       placed under the heading either of ordinary       courts or of special tribunals. Guidance cannot       be found in the name of a body; the       Employment Appeal Tribunal, for example, is a       superior court of record."

     At page 576 under the Chapter "Special Tribunals" the author has stated as follows:-

     ‘These are independent statutory tribunals       whose function is judicial. They are often       called "administrative tribunals" especially       those more closely related by appointment or       policy to the Minister concerned, because the       reasons for creating them are administrative.       The tribunals are so varied in composition,

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 16 of 24  

                                   16

                   method of appointment, functions and                     procedure, and in their relation to Ministers on                     the one hand and the ordinary courts on the                     other, that a satisfactory formal classification is                     impossible.’

                   It, therefore, in my opinion, logically follows              that the tribunal, although not a law court in its true              sense but is a court in a limited sense and is bound to              act independently and impartially and exercise              judicial authority without any fear or favour from any              person and, thus, would be a court within the meaning              of the provisions of the Evidence Act and the              Contempt of Courts Act."

21.   A Court for the purpose of application of the Limitation Act

should ordinarily be subordinate to the High Court. The High Court

exercises its jurisdiction over the subordinate courts inter alia in terms of

Section 115 of the Code of Civil Procedure. While the High Court

exercises its revisional jurisdiction, it for all intent and purport exercises

an appellate jurisdiction. [See - Shankar Ramchandra Abhyankar vs.

Krishnaji Dattatreya Bapat : AIR 1970 SC 1].

22.   The provisions of the Act referred to hereinbefore clearly postulate

that the State of Madhya Pradesh has created a separate forum for the

purpose of determination of disputes arising inter alia out of the works

contract. The Tribunal is not one which can be said to be a Domestic

Tribunal. The Members of the Tribunal are not nominated by the parties.

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 17 of 24  

                                  17

The disputants do not have any control over their appointment. The

Tribunal may reject a reference at the threshold. It has the power to

summon records. It has the power to record evidence. Its functions are

not limited to one Bench. The Chairman of the Tribunal can refer the

disputes to another Bench. Its decision is final. It can award costs. It can

award interests. The finality of the decision is fortified by a legal fiction

created by making an Award a decree of a Civil Court. It is executable

as a decree of a Civil Court. The Award of the Arbitral Tribunal is not

subject to the provisions of the Arbitration Act, 1940 and the Arbitration

and Conciliation Act, 1944.      The provisions of the said Acts have no

application.

23.   We are, therefore, of the opinion that the Tribunal for all intent and

purport is a Court. The Tribunal has to determine a lis. There are two

parties before it. It proceedings are judicial proceeding subject to the

revisional order which may be passed by the High Court.

24.   In Hukumdev Narain Yadav vs. Lalit Narain Mishra : (1974) 2

SCC 133 this Court was considering a question whether an Election

Tribunal while sitting on a Saturday, which is not a usual working day,

would function as Court. It was opined :-

              "10. Now that we have held that the Court is not                closed and the petition could have been presented to

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 18 of 24  

                     18

the Registrar on Saturday, March 18, 1972, the question would be, does Section 5 of the Limitation Act apply to enable the petitioner to show sufficient cause for not filing it on the last day of limitation, but on a subsequent day? Whether Section 5 is applicable to election petitions filed under Section 81 of the Act will depend upon the terms of Section 29(2) of the Limitation Act. Whether Section 5 could be invoked would also depend on the applicability of sub-section (2) of Section 29 of the Limitation Act to election petitions. Under this sub-section where a special or local law provides for any suit, appeal or application a period different from the period prescribed therefor by the Schedule, the provisions specified therein will apply only insofar as and to the extent to which they are expressly excluded by such special or local law. Under Section 29(2) of the Limitation Act of 1908 as amended in 1922, only Section 4, Sections 9 to 18 and Section 22 of that Act applied ordinarily unless excluded by a special or local law. Thus unless Section 5 was made applicable by or under any enactment the discretion of the Court to extend time thereunder would not be available. Similarly Sections 6 to 8 would not apply and neither acknowledgment nor payment (under the former Sections 19 and 20) could give a fresh starting point of limitation. Even Section 5 under the old Act was in terms inapplicable to applications unless the Section was made applicable by or under any of the enactment. The new Section 5 is now of wider applicability and as the objects and reasons state:       "Instead of leaving it to the different States or       the High Courts to extend the application of       Section 5 to applications other than those       enumerated in that Section as now in force, this       clause provides for the automatic application of       this Section to all applications, other than those       arising under Order 21 of the Code of Civil       Procedure, 1908, relating to the execution of       decrees. In the case of special or local laws, it       will be open to such laws to provide that       Section 5 will not apply." The present section incorporates two changes: (1) a uniform rule making it applicable to all applications except those mentioned therein [by defining "application" as including a "petition" in Section 2 (b)]; and (2) to all special and local enactments, unless excluded by any of them. The difference in the

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 19 of 24  

                                 19

           scheme of the provisions of sub-section (2) of Section             29 under the two Acts will be discernible if they are             juxtaposed as under:

                  Section 29(2) of old Act Section 29(2) of new             Act                    Where any special or local law prescribes for                    any suit, appeal or application a period of                    limitation different from the period prescribed                    therefor by the First Schedule, the provisions of                    Section 3 shall apply, as if such period were                    prescribed therefore in that Schedule, and for                    the purpose of determining any period of                    limitation prescribed for any suit, appeal or                    application by any special or local law --(a)                    the provisions contained in Section 4, Sections                    9 to 18, and Section 22 shall apply only insofar                    as, and to the extent to which, they are not                    expressly excluded by such special or local law;                    and(b) the remaining provisions of this Act                    shall not apply.    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 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                    24 (inclusive) shall apply only insofar as, and                    to the extent to which, they are not expressly                    excluded by such special or local law.

25.   There cannot, therefore, any doubt whatsoever that if the Arbitral

Tribunal in question is a Court and not a personal designate, sub-section

(2) of Section 29, Section 5 of the Limitation Act would apply. It is only

when the limitation provided under the Special Law, is different from

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 20 of 24  

                                  20

that prescribed in the Schedule appended to the Limitation Act, sub-

section (2) of Section 29 would be attracted.

26.   In Mukri Gopalan (supra) the distinction between the ‘Personal

Designata’ and ‘Court’ was noticed.       It was held that the appellate

authority constituted under Section 18 of the Rent Act was a Court

having all the trappings of the Courts.

27.   If the Tribunal is a Court, fortiori sub-section (2) of Section 29

would apply. As it is a Court it was not necessary for the legislature to

confer power under Section 5 of the 1963 Act specifically. In that view

of mater an application under Section 5 of the Limitation Act would be

maintainable.

28.   In Mukri Gopalan (supra), this Court held :

            "15. After repealing of Indian Limitation Act, 1908              and its replacement by the present Limitation Act of              1963 a fundamental change was made in Section 29              (2). The present Section 29(2) as already extracted              earlier clearly indicates that once the requisite              conditions for its applicability to given proceedings              under special or local law are attracted, the provisions              contained in Sections 4 to 24 both inclusive would get              attracted which obviously would bring in Section 5              which also shall apply to such proceedings unless              applicability of any of the aforesaid sections of the              Limitation Act is expressly excluded by such special              or local law. By this change it is not necessary to              expressly state in a special law that the provisions              contained in Section 5 of the Limitation Act shall              apply to the determination of the periods under it. By              the general provision contained in Section 29(2) this              provision is made applicable to the periods prescribed              under the special laws. An express mention in the

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 21 of 24  

                                 21

           special law is necessary only for any exclusion. It is             on this basis that when the new Rent Act was passed             in 1965 the provision contained in old Section 31 was             omitted. It becomes therefore apparent that on a             conjoint reading of Section 29(2) of Limitation Act of             1963 and Section 18 of the Rent Act of 1965,             provisions of Section 5 would automatically get             attracted to those proceedings, as there is nothing in             the Rent Act of 1965 expressly excluding the             applicability of Section 5 of the Limitation Act to             appeals under Section 18 of the Rent Act."

29.   The Full Bench, however, affirmed the decision of the Division

Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on the authority of Nasirrudin

and others vs.    Sitaram and others : (2003) 2 SCC 577 and Union of

India vs. Popular Construction Co. : (2001) 8 SCC 470.

30.   In Popular Construction (supra) application of Arbitration and

Conciliation Act, 1996 was in question. The Arbitration Act clearly

provided for a limitation in the matter of exercise of discretionary

jurisdiction for condoning the delay only for a period of 30 days and not

thereafter. It was in the aforementioned situation this Court held that

Section 5 of the Limitation Act as such will have no application, as a

special limitation has been provided for.

31.   In Nasirrudin (supra) this Court was considering the applicability

of Section 5 of the Limitation Act in the matter of deposit of rent. The

said question came up for consideration in the light of the power of the

Rent Controller in terms of the Rent Control Statute in the matter of

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 22 of 24  

                                 22

depositing the rent. In other words the question was that the provision

was directory or mandatory. It was in that view of the matter this Court

opined :-

           "45. On perusal of the said section it is evident that             the question of application of Section 5 would arise             where any appeal or any application may be admitted             after the prescribed period, if the appellant or the             applicant satisfies the court that he had sufficient             cause for not making the appeal or application within             such period. Section 13(4) provides that in a suit for             eviction on the ground set forth in clause (a) of sub-             section (1), the tenant shall on the first date of hearing             or on or before such date, the court may on the             application fixed in this behalf or within such time the             tenant shall deposit in court or pay to the landlord in             court as determined under sub-section (3) from the             date of such determination or within such further time             not exceeding three months as may be extended by             the court. Thus, sub-section (4) itself provides for             limitation of a specific period within which the             deposit has to be made, which cannot be exceeding             three months as extended by the court.

     It was furthermore observed :-

           "47. The provisions of Section 5 of the Limitation Act             must be construed having regard to Section 3 thereof.             For filing an application after the expiry of the period             prescribed under the Limitation Act or any other             special statute, a cause of action must arise.             Compliance with an order passed by a court of law in             terms of a statutory provision does not give rise to a             cause of action. On failure to comply with an order             passed by a court of law, instant consequences are             provided for under the statute. The court can condone             the default only when the statute confers such a power             on the court and not otherwise. In that view of the             matter we have no other option but to hold that             Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963 has no             application in the instant case."

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 23 of 24  

                                  23

     It was observed that for entertaining an application within the

meaning of the said provision, there should be some request. Mukri

Gopalan (supra) was distinguished stating :-

            "53. Mr Gupta, appearing on behalf of the              respondent, however, placed reliance upon a decision              of this Court in Mukri Gopalan v. Cheppilat              Puthanpurayil Aboobacker. Therein this Court was              concerned with extension of the period of limitation              in a case wherein an appeal was to be preferred before              an Appellate Authority under the Kerala Buildings              (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965. As for preferring              an appeal a period of limitation is prescribed, it was              held that Section 5 of the Act was applicable and,              therefore, the said decision is of no help to the              respondent."

     It was not dissented from.

32.   We, therefore, are prima facie of the opinion that the Nagar Palika

Parishad, Morena (supra) was not correctly decided and, thus, the matter

requires consideration by a Larger Bench. It is ordered accordingly.

33.   Let the records of the case be placed before the Hon’ble the Chief

Justice of India for constituting an appropriate Bench.

                                                     .........................                                                                            ...J.                                                  (S.B. SINHA)

                                                 ............................J.                                                   (V.S. SIRPURKAR)

New Delhi.

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 24 of 24  

               24

May 12, 2008.