ROSHAN LAL Vs. CHAUDHRI BASHIR AHMAD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The question for determination in this appeal is whether the suit was rightly dismissed by the Court below on the ground of limitation.

(2.) The suit was brought on foot of a bond executed on the 10 of July 1908. The principal amount was payable in the course of three years. But it was also stipulated that interest would be paid every six months according to the Hindi calendar and if any much interest (payable every six months), should remain unpaid the mortgagee would be entitled to enforce his bond without waiting for the three years time. It is common ground that no interest was paid by the mortgagor. It is also common ground that if six months, according to the Hindi calendar, be added to the date of the bond, the starting point of limitation would be some time before the 10 of January 1909, the date on which the suit was actually filed. On the other hand if six months, according to the Gregorian calendar, be taken from the date of the bond as the starting point of limitation, the suit would be just within time. The question is what course should be adopted to find out the starting point of limitation.

(3.) The learned Counsel for the appellants has taken his stand on Section 25 of the Limitation Act and has referred us to two cases viz: Rango Bujaji V/s. Babaji 6 B. 83 : 3 Ind. Dec. (N.S.) 513 and Latifunnisa V/s. Dhan Kunwar 24 C. 382 : 12 Ind. Dec. (N.S.) 922. The Court below has referred to the case of Dwarka Prasad v. Raja Ram 29 Ind. Cas. 980 : 13 A.L.J. 486. We have carefully gone through these cases and are of opinion that it is really a matter of interpretation in every case. The true principle seems to be this. If the starting point is to be calculated, as so many months or so many years from a particular date, that point must be calculated according to the Gregorian calendar. On the other hand, if the starting point is otherwise fixed by the stipulation itself, the Court cannot apply Section 25 of the Limitation Act. In the case of South British Fire and Marine Insurance Co. v. Brojo Nath Shaha 2 Ind. Cas. 573 : 36 C. 516 : 13 C.W.N. 425 their Lordships of the Calcutta High Court had to interpret a policy of insurance and they held that lunar months were meant and not calendar months. It is, therefore, really a matter of interpretation in every case.