CENTRAL COALFIELDS LTD Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant. No body has appeared to contest the appeal in spite of service of notices upon the respondents.

(2.) This appeal has been filed against the order passed by Railway Claims Tribunal, Patna Bench, (hereinafter referred to as 'the Tribunal') in a claim application by which the appellant's claim has been rejected on the ground of limitation though on merit the Tribunal was of the view that it was a fit case for allowing the claim. According to the Tribunal, the suit was barred under Art. 11 of the Limitation Act, 1963 (hereinafter referred to as '1963 Act') which corresponds to Art. 31 of the Limitation Act, 1908 (hereinafter referred to as '1908 Act'). In the present case, the claim case was filed on 18-5-1983 for awarding compensation to the tune of Rs. 7649.46 p. being price of goods in question on account of short delivery. The question is whether the limitation shall begin to run from 15-1-80 on which day demand was made for open delivery or from 11-4-80 when open delivery was granted. It is submitted that keeping in mind nature of the short delivery the present case should be treated to be a case for compensation for loss of goods within the meaning of Art. 10 of 1963 Act which corresponds to Art. 30 of 1908 Act and not for non-delivery thereof within the meaning of Art. 11 of 1963 Act corresponding to which in 1908 Act is Art. 31.

(3.) In support of his submission the learned counsel for the appellant has placed reliance upon decision of a Division Bench of this Court in the case of Union of India v. Jogendra Chandra Naha, 1910 BLJR 278 wherein it has been laid down that in view of the nature of short delivery, in that case, the suit filed for compensation shall be treated to be a suit for realisation of compensation on account of loss of goods within the meaning of Art. 30 of 1908 Act and not non delivery of goods within the meaning of Art. 31 of 1908 Act, therefore it was held that in such a case Art. 30 was applicable and the suit could have been filed within a period of three years from the date loss had occurred. It was also laid down that the limitation shall begin to run from the date the loss is detected and loss is detected only when open delivery is made.