An overview of provisions for limitation under the criminal procedure code along with certain case laws.

1. BY: SHUBHAM SONI
CHAPTER XXXVI LIMITATION FOR TAKING
COGNIZANCE OF CERTAIN OFFENCES.
LIMITATION
UNDER
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
LITIGATION ADVOCACY | MARCH 2018

2. NIRMA UNIVERSITY
CONTENTS
I N T R O D U C T I O N
L I M I T A T I O N F O R T A K I N G
C O G N I Z A N C E O F C E R T A I N
O F F E N C E S [ 4 6 7 - 4 7 3 ]
J U D I C I A L A N A L Y S I S
C O N C L U S I O N
MARCH 2018

3. NIRMA UNIVERSITY MARCH 2018
INTRODUCTION
R A T I O N A L E
Testimony of witnesses becomes weaker with the
lapse of time and memory and consequently the
chances of errors in judgments increase, since the
evidence becomes weaker.
Put pressure on the system of the criminal
prosecution to ensure that the offender is convicted
and punished quickly to ensure speedy justice.
In consonance with the concept of fairness of trial, as
enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

4. NIRMA UNIVERSITY MARCH 2018
INTRODUCTION
O V E R V I E W O F P R O V I S I O N S
Section 467 of Cr.P.C defines the phrase
‘period of limitation’ to mean the period
specified in Section 468 for taking
cognizance of certain offences.

5. NIRMA UNIVERSITY MARCH 2018
INTRODUCTION
O V E R V I E W O F P R O V I S I O N S
Section 468 stipulates the bar of limitation.
Sub-section (1) of Section 468 makes it clear
that a fetter is put on the court’s power to take
cognizance of an offence of the category
mentioned in sub-section (2) after the expiry
of a period of Sub section (2) lays down the
period of limitation for certain offences.

6. NIRMA UNIVERSITY MARCH 2018
INTRODUCTION
O V E R V I E W O F P R O V I S I O N S
Section 469 states when the period of limitation
commences. It is dexterously drafted so as to
prevent advantage of bar of limitation being
taken by the accused. It states that period of
limitation in relation to an offence shall
commence either from the date of offence or
from the date when the offence is detected.

7. NIRMA UNIVERSITY MARCH 2018
INTRODUCTION
O V E R V I E W O F P R O V I S I O N S
Section 470 provides for exclusion of time in certain cases. It
inter alia states that while computing the period of limitation
in relation to an offence, time taken during which the case
was being diligently prosecuted in another court or in appeal
or in revision against the offender, should be excluded.
The explanation to this section states that in computing
limitation, the time required for obtaining the consent or
sanction of the government or any other authority should be
excluded. Similarly time during which the accused is
absconding or is absent from India shall also be excluded.

8. NIRMA UNIVERSITY MARCH 2018
INTRODUCTION
O V E R V I E W O F P R O V I S I O N S
Section 471 provides for the exclusion of date on
which court is closed and Section 472 provides for
continuing offence.
Section 473 is an overriding provision which enables
courts to condone delay where such delay has been
properly explained or where the interest of justice
demands extension of period of limitation.

9. NIRMA UNIVERSITY MARCH 2018
CASE STUDY I
M R S . S A R A H M A T H E W V S T H E I N S T I T U T E O F C A R D I O V A S C U L A R D I S E A S E S
[ C R I M I N A L A P P E A L 8 2 9 / 2 0 0 5 ]
H e l d t h a t f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f c o m p u t i n g t h e p e r i o d o f
l i m i t a t i o n i n C r i m i n a l C a s e s t h e r e l e v a n t d a t e i s t h e
d a t e o f f i l i n g o f t h e c o m p l a i n t o r t h e d a t e o f
i n s t i t u t i o n o f p r o s e c u t i o n a n d n o t t h e d a t e o n w h i c h
t h e M a g i s t r a t e t a k e s c o g n i z a n c e .
R e s o l v e d K r i s h n a P i l l a i v s B h a r a t K a l e ( w h i c h i s
f o l l o w e d i n J a p a n i S a h o o ) l a y s d o w n t h e c o r r e c t l a w ?
I s s u e : W h e t h e r f o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f c o m p u t i n g t h e
p e r i o d o f l i m i t a t i o n u n d e r S e c t i o n 4 6 8 o f t h e C r . P . C
t h e r e l e v a n t d a t e i s t h e d a t e o f f i l i n g o f t h e c o m p l a i n t
o r t h e d a t e o f i n s t i t u t i o n o f p r o s e c u t i o n o r w h e t h e r
t h e r e l e v a n t d a t e i s t h e d a t e o n w h i c h a M a g i s t r a t e
t a k e s c o g n i z a n c e o f t h e o f f e n c e ?

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CHAPTER XXXVI
According to Section 468, if an offence is punishable with
fine only, the period of limitation shall be six months and if
the offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term that
does not exceed one year, the period of limitation is one
year.
Section 468, further makes it clear that if the offence is
punishable with imprisonment for a term exceeding one year
but not exceeding three years, the period of limitation shall
be three years.

11. NIRMA UNIVERSITY MARCH 2018
CHAPTER XXXVI
Does not lay down the period of limitation for offences
punishable with imprisonment exceeding three years.
Meaning thereby there is no outer limit qua the limitation in
relation to the offences having punishment for three years or
more.
Thus, Section 473 of the Code of Criminal Procedure enables
the Court to take cognizance of an offence after the expiry of
the period of limitation, if it is satisfied on the facts and in
the circumstances of the case that the delay has been
properly explained.

12. NIRMA UNIVERSITY MARCH 2018
CASE STUDY II
C R I M E N E V E R D I E S
I n A s s t . C u s t o m s C o l l e c t o r , B o m b a y v . L . R .
M e l w a n i , A I R ( 1 9 7 0 ) S C 9 6 2 , 9 6 5 , t h e S u p r e m e
C o u r t h e l d t h a t :
" T h e q u e s t i o n o f d e l a y i n f i l i n g a c o m p l a i n t m a y
b e a c i r c u m s t a n c e t o b e t a k e n i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n
i n a r r i v i n g a t t h e f i n a l v e r d i c t . B u t b y i t s e l f i t
a f f o r d s n o g r o u n d f o r d i s m i s s i n g t h e c o m p l i a n t " .

13. NIRMA UNIVERSITY MARCH 2018
CASE STUDY III
C R I M E N E V E R D I E S
I n A s s t . C u s t o m s C o l l e c t o r , B o m b a y v . L . R .
M e l w a n i , A I R ( 1 9 7 0 ) S C 9 6 2 , 9 6 5 , t h e S u p r e m e
C o u r t h e l d t h a t :
" T h e q u e s t i o n o f d e l a y i n f i l i n g a c o m p l a i n t m a y
b e a c i r c u m s t a n c e t o b e t a k e n i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n
i n a r r i v i n g a t t h e f i n a l v e r d i c t . B u t b y i t s e l f i t
a f f o r d s n o g r o u n d f o r d i s m i s s i n g t h e c o m p l i a n t " .

14. NIRMA UNIVERSITY MARCH 2018
CASE STUDY IV
B H A G I R A T H K A N O R I A A N D O T H E R S – V S - S T A T E O F M . P . , A I R 1 9 8 4
S . C . 1 6 8 8
T h e p r i n c i p a l q u e s t i o n i n t h e d e c i s i o n w a s
r e g a r d i n g c o n t i n u i n g o f f e n c e s p o k e n a b o u t
i n S e c t i o n 4 7 2 b u t t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t a l s o
d r e w p o i n t e d a t t e n t i o n o f t h e
C o u r t s t o t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f S e c t i o n 4 7 3 o f
t h e C o d e .
“ T h e q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r a p a r t i c u l a r o f f e n c e
i s a c o n t i n u i n g o f f e n c e m u s t n e c e s s a r i l y
d e p e n d u p o n t h e l a n g u a g e o f t h e s t a t u t e
w h i c h c r e a t e s t h a t o f f e n c e , t h e n a t u r e o f
t h e o f f e n c e a n d , a b o v e a l l , t h e p u r p o s e
w h i c h i s i n t e n d e d t o b e a c h i e v e d b y
c o n s t i t u t i n g t h e p a r t i c u l a r a c t a s a n
o f f e n c e . "

15. NIRMA UNIVERSITY MARCH 2018
CASE STUDY IV
B H A G I R A T H K A N O R I A A N D O T H E R S – V S - S T A T E O F M . P . , A I R 1 9 8 4
S . C . 1 6 8 8
I n p a r a 2 2 o f t h e J u d g m e n t i t w a s h e l d t h a t
S e c t i o n 4 7 3 o f t h e C o d e e n a c t s a n
o v e r r i d i n g p r o v i s i o n a n d c o u r t s
c o n f r o n t e d w i t h p r o v i s i o n l a y i n g d o w n a
r u l e o f l i m i t a t i o n g o v e r n i n g p r o s e c u t i o n
w i l l g i v e d u e w e i g h t a n d c o n s i d e r a t i o n t o
p r o v i s i o n s o f S e c t i o n 4 7 3 a n d t a k e
c o g n i z a n c e e v e n a f t e r e x p i r y o f l i m i t a t i o n
i f i n t e r e s t o f j u s t i c e s o r e q u i r e s .

16. NIRMA UNIVERSITY MARCH 2018
CASE STUDY IV
V A N K A R A D H A M A N O H A R I ( S M T ) – V S - V A N K A V E N K A T A R E D D Y A N D
O T H E R S , ( 1 9 9 3 ) 3 S C C 4 D E C I D E D O N T H E 2 0 T H A P R I L 1 9 9 3
T h e H i g h C o u r t d i d n o t n o t i c e t h a t f o r o f f e n c e u n d e r
S e c t i o n 4 9 4 I . P . C . p u n i s h a b l e w i t h i m p r i s o n m e n t u p t o
s e v e n y e a r s n o b a r o f l i m i t a t i o n i s a p p l i c a b l e .
T h e S u p r e m e C o u r t r e f e r r e d t o S A R W A N S I N G H a n d
B H A G I R A T H K A N O R I A a n d h e l d t h a t t h e H i g h C o u r t s h o u l d
h a v e c o n s i d e r e d t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f S e c t i o n 4 7 3 o f t h e
C o d e , s p e c i a l l y i n a c a s e o f c r u e l t y a g a i n s t w o m e n .
T h e S u p r e m e C o u r t a p p l i e d S e c t i o n
4 7 3 a n d c o n d o n e d t h e d e l a y . T h e o r d e r o f t h e M a g i s t r a t e
w a s r e s t o r e d .

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