Daljit Singh Grewal v. Ram Singh

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision : 15.07.2025 Daljit Singh Grewal ....Appellant

Versus

Ram Singh ....Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PANKAJ JAIN ***** Present:- Mr. Rajesh Punj, Advocate and Mr. Sahaj Punj, Advocate for the appellant.

***** PANKAJ JAIN, J.(ORAL) Plaintiff is in second appeal aggrieved of the judgment and decree passed by the Courts below.

The sole question involved in the present appeal is as to when the limitation to file the present suit could commence. In order to ascertain the same the prayer made in the plaint needs to be perused. The same reads as under :- "Suit for recovery of ₹5,00,000/- under the law of tort on account of damages and injury to the reputation and profession suffered by the plaintiff and also on account of uncalled for expenses incurred on litigation by the plaintiff on account of deliberate and intentional false defamation and slander of the character and reputation of the plaintiff by the defendant."

The FIR came into being on 16.01.2001. In the considered opinion of this Court, the limitation would be governed by Article 75 and 76 of the Limitation Act, 1963 (for short 'the 1963 Act') which read as under :- The present suit was instituted on 14.02.2002. Counsel for the appellant submits that the limitation would commence from the day the cancellation report was accepted by the competent Court and the accusations as leveled in the FIR were proved to be false. He further submits that it is only when the cancellation report was accepted that the cause of action in favour of the plaintiff arose and thus the limitation would commence from the said date only. In the considered opinion of this Court, the argument raised is misconceived. Under Article 75 and 76 of the 1963 Act, the limitation starts to run from the day the libel is published or the slander is spoken. In view thereof, this Court does not find any reason to interfere in the well reasoned judgments passed by the Courts below and the same is ordered to be dismissed.

Pending miscellaneous application, if any, also stands disposed off.

( PANKAJ JAIN ) 15.07.2025 JUDGE Pooja Sharma-I Whether speaking/reasoned:

Yes/No Whether reportable:

Yes/No