Kerala High Court: Section 14 Limitation Relief Not Automatic, All Ingredients Must Be Satisfied

The Kerala High Court has held that the benefit of Section 14(1) of the Limitation Act cannot be liberally applied just to save a case from being time-barred.

The Court ruled that the exclusion of limitation period under Section 14 is available only if all required ingredients, such as bona fide and diligent prosecution of the earlier suit, are satisfied.

The bench found the plaintiffs were not entitled to this benefit as they continued litigation despite knowing their suit was not maintainable.

The Court emphasized that Section 14 should not be stretched beyond its statutory limits merely to save a lis.