Limitation Act, 1963 · Chapter III: Computation of Period of Limitation
Section 20: Effect of acknowledgment or payment by another person
(1) The expression "agent duly authorised in this behalf" in sections 18 and 19 shall, in the case of a person under disability, include his lawful guardian, committee or manager or an agent duly authorised by such guardian, committee or manager to sign the acknowledgment or make the payment.
(2) Nothing in the said sections renders one of several joint contractors, partners, executors or mortgagees chargeable by reason only of a written acknowledgment signed by, or of a payment made by, or by the agent of, any other or others of them.
(3) For the purposes of the said sections,—
(a) an acknowledgment signed or a payment made in respect of any liability by, or by the duly authorised agent of, any limited owner of property who is governed by Hindu law, shall be a valid acknowledgment or payment, as the case may be, against a reversioner succeeding to such liability; and
(b) where a liability has been incurred by, or on behalf of a Hindu undivided family as such, an acknowledgment or payment made by, or by the duly authorised agent of, the manager of the family for the time being shall be deemed to have been made on behalf of the whole family.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 20
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Santosh Devi v. Sunder
Whether the High Court rightly dismissed the second appeal filed by the petitioner herein (plaintiff) affirming the judgment passed by the First Appellate Court which had upheld the decree passed by the trial court…
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Aslam Ismail Khan Deshmukh v. Asap Fluids Pvt. Ltd. & Anr.
Petitioner sought appointment of an arbitrator for the adjudication of disputes and claims in terms of the Shareholders Agreement between the parties. Whether the reference under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration &…
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M/S Arif Azim Co. Ltd. v. M/S Aptech Ltd.
Whether the Limitation Act, 1963 is applicable to an application for appointment of arbitrator u/s.11(6), Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996; if yes, whether the present petition is barred by limitation; when does…
- M/S B and T Ag v. Ministry of Defence
- Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. & Anr. v. M/S Nortel Networks India Pvt. Ltd.
- M/S Shanti Conductors (P) Ltd. v. Assam State Electricity Board and Ors. Review Petition (C) Nos. 786787 of 2019 in