As such, the only aspect to be examined is whether the
time spent before the Consumer Forum can be excluded in terms of
Section 14 of the Limitation Act, 1963. In this connection, it would
also be appropriate to note that the fact that the proceedings were
initiated bonafide and that the respondents were also parties to such
proceedings and defending their claim, is also undisputed. In this
connection, a Division Bench of this Court in a Judgment reported in
AIR 2001 BOMBAY 327 in the case of M/s. Deokar Exports Pvt.
Ltd., vs. new India Assurance Co. Ltd., has taken a view that the time
taken in pursuing a complaint before the Consumer Forum is to be
excluded in terms of Section 14 of the Limitation Act, by observing at
para 10, thus:
“10. We may note that on 10-2-1990, fire broke out
and the machinery was damaged. The respondent
was immediately informed orally by the appellant.
However, the respondent was informed in writing on
17-2-1990. Correspondence followed between the
"parties. The respondent declined to pay the claim of
the appellant on 18-4-1990. The appellant
approached the said NCDRC on 20-8-1991. The
same was decided by the said forum on 23-9-1992. It
came to be rejected on the ground that considering
the contention of the respondent there was no
deficiency in service. Therefore, it has no
jurisdiction and appellant can avail of any other
remedy available. Article 44(b) of the Limitation Act,
1963 provides three years limitation from the date of
occurrence causing loss or where the claim on the
policy is denied the date of such denial. Section 14
deals with exclusion of time of proceeding bona fide
in Court without jurisdiction. Section 14(1) is as
under :--
"14. Exclusion of time of proceeding bona
fide in Court without jurisdiction.-- (1) In
computing the period of limitation for any
suit the time during which the plaintiff has
been prosecuting with due diligence another
civil proceeding, whether in a Court of first
instance or of appeal or revision, against the
defendant shall be excluded, where the
proceeding relates to the same matter in issue
and is prosecuted in good faith in a Court
which, from defect of jurisdiction, or other
cause of a like nature, is unable to entertain
it."
Considering the above position, it cannot be
accepted that the resort by the appellant to the said
forum of NCDRC was not in good faith or bona fide
or it was deliberately chosen knowing full well that
it was incompetent to deal with it. The order passed
by the said Forum shows that the appellant has
approached the said Forum bona fide and hence the
respondent was permitted to avail of any other
remedy available. At the most, it may be said that
the further steps by the appellant of going before the
Apex Court by filing S.L.P, was not in good faith.
However, in view of Section 14(1) of the Limitation
Act, the appellant is entitled for exclusion of the
period from 20th August, 1991 to 30-9-1992. The
learned counsel for the respondent has rightly relied
upon the judgment in the matter of Saushish
Diamonds Ltd. v. National Insurance Co. Ltd.
MANU/SC/1175/1998 : (1998)8SCC357 . In the
said case, precisely the same position concurred.
The appellant had approached the National
Commission for Consumer Redressal. The said
Commission in its order held that the Insurance
Company has repudiated the claim. Hence, the relief
cannot be granted by it. This order came to be
challenged before the Apex Court. It was observed
as under :--
"..... Under these circumstances, the Commission
rightly relegated the parties to a civil action. It is
true that limitation has run out against the
appellant during the pendency of the
proceedings. Therefore, the time taken between
the date of the filing of the claim before the
Commission and the date of its disposal, namely,
28-9-1995 would be considered by the Civil
Court for exclusion under Section 14 of the
Limitation Act, 1963."
In view of the above position, we hold that the suit
filed by the appellant was within limitation.”
The Karnataka High Court, in the Judgment reported in ILR 2004 KAR
4322, SCC Online Karnataka 121 in the case of The City Municipal
Council vs. M/s. S.A. Lateef & Co. Andhra Pradesh, has also taken a
similar view that the period taken in pursuing remedy under the
Consumer Protection Act can be excluded in terms of Section 14 of the
Limitation Act by observing thus :
“LIMITATION ACT, 1963 (CENTRAL ACT NO.
36 OF 1963) – SECTION 14-Exclusion of time of
proceedings 'Bonafide' in Court without jurisdiction
– Computing the period of limitation – Prosecuting
with due diligence in another Civil Proceeding in
good faith under Consumer Protection Act. The
plaintiff had filed a complaint before District
Consumer Forum for recovery of unpaid price. The
complaint was allowed and defendant was directed
to pay the amount. In the appeal, the State
Commission by its order dated 16.1.1996, held that
the subject matter of dispute is not governed by
Consumer Protection Act and gave liberty to the
plaintiff to approach Civil Court; Accordingly suit is
filed. HELD – Provisions of Section 14 declare that
bonafidely and with due diligence if a person is
prosecuting any Civil Proceedings, in any other
Court which has no competent jurisdiction, the
period spent in that litigation is to be deducted. The
District Consumer Forum is very much a Court of
Civil jurisdiction and the proceedings before the
Consumer Forum are Civil Proceedings. Merely by
the fact that State Forum has held that the complaint
is not maintainable and that the plaintiff is not a
consumer within the definition, is not a ground by
itself to infer that there was lack of diligence or
bonafides on the part of the plaintiff. The plaintiff
was assisted by the Counsel. The District Forum
entertained the complaint and granted a decree. The
limitation for filing the suit in the normal course was
22.3.96. The complaint before the Forum was filed
on 7.1.95 and proceedings under Consumer
Protection Act finally terminated on 9.1.97. About 2
years and 8 months is spent in litigation before
Consumer Forum. If the said period is deducted, the
present suit filed on 12.1.98 is well within the
limitation. Therefore, the grant of benefit of Section
14 of Limitation Act by Trial Court is sound and
proper.”
In AIR 1995 SC 1428, in the case of Laxmi Engineering Works vs.
P.S.G. Industrial Institute, the Apex Court has observed, inter alia, at
para 26 that in case the appellant chooses to file a suit, the period taken
in pursuing the complaint under the Consumer Protection Act is to be
excluded in terms of Section 14 of the Limitation Act. A similar view
has also been taken by the Apex Court in the Judgment reported in
(1998) 8 SCC 357 in the case of Saushish Diamonds Ltd. vs.
National Insurance Co. Ltd..
12. Taking note of the observations of the Division Bench of
this Court and of the Apex Court referred to hereinabove, the fact that
time taken to pursue a complaint under the Consumer Protection Act
can be excluded in terms of Section 14 of the Limitation Act, 1963 is
no longer res integra and, as such, the contention of Mr. Tamba,
learned Counsel appearing for the respondents No.2 to 5 that such time
cannot be excluded, cannot be accepted. In such circumstances, the
fact that the proceedings were bonafide are apparent in the context that
the proceedings were diligently pursued by the appellants before the
State Commission and, in fact, on perusal of the Judgment of the
learned State Commission, it is clearly held that the appellants were
granted leave to pursue their claim by filing a civil suit. As such, the
suit filed by the appellant is within the period of limitation in terms of
Article 54 of the Limitation Act, 1963. The first point for
determination is answered accordingly.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY AT GOA
FIRST APPEAL NO. 206 OF 2009
WITH
MISC. CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 182/2015
Shangrilla Apartments Co-op.
Housing Society Ltd.
Versus
M/s. Rivin Builders,
CORAM :- F.M. REIS &
K.L. WADANE, JJ.
Date : - 08/07/2015.
Citation;2016(2) ALLMR136
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