limitation-calculator: Скилл расчета сроков исковой давности

--- name: limitation-calculator description: Calculate precise limitation periods under Limitation Act 1963 including COVID-19 extension (531 days), exclusions, and extensions. This skill should be used when determining filing deadlines for legal proceedings, appeals, applications, or when analyzing whether a claim is time-barred. license: MIT --- # Limitation Calculator This skill provides precise limitation period calculation following Limitation Act 1963, including the Supreme Court COVID-19 extension order (March 15, 2020 - October 2, 2021 = 531 days). ## Purpose Calculate accurate limitation periods by: 1. Identifying correct Article from Limitation Act Schedule 2. Computing basic limitation period 3. Applying exclusions (Section 14, prior litigation) 4. Applying extensions (COVID-19 531 days, acknowledgment, part payment) 5. Determining final filing deadline with precision ## When to Use This Skill Use this skill when: - Determining if suit/appeal/application is within limitation - Calculating exact filing deadline for legal proceeding - Analyzing whether cause of action is time-barred - Advising on urgency of legal action - Drafting pleadings requiring limitation analysis ## Critical Warning ⚠️ **LIMITATION IS MANDATORY** ⚠️ Section 3, Limitation Act 1963: > "Subject to the provisions contained in sections 4 to 24 (inclusive), every suit instituted, appeal preferred, and application made after the prescribed period shall be dismissed although limitation has not been set up as a defence." **LIMITATION BARS THE REMEDY, NOT THE RIGHT** Once period expires: - Court MUST dismiss (mandatory language) - No discretion to condone delay (except Section 5 for appeals/applications, NOT suits) - Cause of action extinguished ## Key Articles - Limitation Periods Refer to @references/limitation-articles-table.md for complete list. ### Common Articles **Contracts & Specific Relief**: - **Article 54**: Specific performance of contract - **3 years** (from date fixed for performance OR if no date fixed, from refusal to perform) - **Article 55**: Breach of contract - **3 years** (from breach) - **Article 113**: Suit on contract - **3 years** (from accrual of right to sue) **Property & Possession**: - **Article 65**: Suit for possession of immovable property - **12 years** (from dispossession) - **Article 64**: Suit to recover possession based on title - **12 years** (from accrual of right) **Torts**: - **Article 113**: Compensation for wrongful act - **3 years** (from act) **Appeals**: - **Article 116**: Appeal from decree/order of civil court (CPC Order 43) - **30/90 days** (from decree/order) - **Article 117**: Appeal under CPC where no period fixed - **90 days** **Applications**: - **Article 137**: Residuary article (applications) - **3 years** (from right to apply accrues) **Money Suits**: - **Article 62**: Money lent - **3 years** (from refusal or expiry of notice period) - **Article 113**: Money payable under contract - **3 years** (from breach) ## Limitation Calculation Workflow ### Step 1: Identify Applicable Article **Process**: 1. Determine nature of proceeding (suit, appeal, application) 2. Identify cause of action / subject matter 3. Match to Article in Limitation Act Schedule 4. Note limitation period and starting point **Example**: ``` Proceeding: Suit for specific performance of sale agreement Nature: Civil suit Subject: Specific Relief Act, Section 10 (specific performance) Article: Article 54, Limitation Act Period: 3 years Starting Point: Date fixed for performance OR refusal to perform ``` Refer to: @references/article-finder-guide.md ### Step 2: Determine Starting Point (Accrual Date) **Critical**: Each Article specifies "time from which period begins to run" **Common Starting Points**: - Contracts: Date of breach OR date fixed for performance - Torts: Date of wrongful act - Possession: Date of dispossession - Decrees: Date of decree - Knowledge-based: Date of knowledge (fraud, mistake) **Example - Article 54**: ``` Sale agreement dated: January 1, 2020 Performance date: June 1, 2020 Seller refused: June 15, 2020 Starting Point: June 15, 2020 (refusal to perform) ``` ### Step 3: Calculate Basic Limitation Period Formula: ``` Basic Expiry Date = Starting Point + Limitation Period ``` **Example (Article 54 - 3 years)**: ``` Starting Point: June 15, 2020 + 3 years = June 15, 2023 (basic expiry) ``` ### Step 4: Apply Exclusions (Section 14) **Section 14 - Exclusion of time in certain cases**: If prior litigation pending in good faith in wrong court: ``` Excluded Time = [Date prior suit filed] to [Date prior suit finally disposed] Extended Deadline = Basic Expiry + Excluded Time ``` **Conditions**: 1. Prior suit in court lacking jurisdiction 2. Filed in good faith (bonafide belief court had jurisdiction) 3. Diligence shown (no unnecessary delay) **Example**: ``` Basic Expiry: June 15, 2023 Prior suit filed: March 1, 2021 (wrong court) Prior suit dismissed: December 1, 2021 (lack of jurisdiction) Excluded Period: March 1 - December 1, 2021 = 9 months Extended Deadline: June 15, 2023 + 9 months = March 15, 2024 ``` Refer to: @references/section-14-guide.md ### Step 5: Apply COVID-19 Extension **Supreme Court Order (March 23, 2020 + subsequent extensions)**: **TOTAL EXTENSION: 531 DAYS** - Period: March 15, 2020 - October 2, 2021 - Applicability: ALL proceedings (suits, appeals, applications, execution) **How to Apply**: ``` If limitation period expired OR was running during March 15, 2020 - Oct 2, 2021: Extended Deadline = Basic Expiry + 531 days If limitation started AFTER October 2, 2021: No COVID extension applicable ``` **Example 1 - Period Expired During COVID**: ``` Basic Expiry: June 15, 2020 (during COVID extension) + 531 days = November 28, 2021 (extended deadline) ``` **Example 2 - Period Running During COVID**: ``` Starting Point: January 1, 2020 Basic Expiry: January 1, 2023 (3-year period) COVID Extension: + 531 days (period was running during March 15, 2020 - Oct 2, 2021) Final Deadline: June 15, 2024 ``` **Example 3 - Period Started After COVID**: ``` Starting Point: December 1, 2021 (after Oct 2, 2021) Basic Expiry: December 1, 2024 COVID Extension: NOT APPLICABLE Final Deadline: December 1, 2024 ``` Refer to: @scripts/covid_calculator.py for automated calculation ### Step 6: Apply Other Extensions/Exclusions **Section 18 - Acknowledgment**: Fresh limitation starts from date of written acknowledgment signed by party **Section 19 - Part Payment**: Fresh limitation starts from date of part payment **Section 5 - Condonation of Delay**: - Applies ONLY to appeals and applications - Does NOT apply to suits - Requires "sufficient cause" for delay - Court has discretion (unlike Section 3) ### Step 7: Final Deadline Determination **Output Format**: ``` LIMITATION CALCULATION SUMMARY Proceeding: [Description] Article: [Number] - [Description] Base Period: [X] years/days Starting Point: [Date + event triggering limitation] CALCULATION: 1. Basic Expiry: [Date] 2. Section 14 Exclusion: + [X] days 3. COVID-19 Extension: + 531 days 4. Other Extensions: + [X] days (if any) FINAL DEADLINE: [Date] Days Remaining: [X] days (if not expired) Status: ✓ WITHIN LIMITATION / ✗ TIME-BARRED URGENCY: [HIGH/MEDIUM/LOW] ``` **Example Output**: ``` LIMITATION CALCULATION SUMMARY Proceeding: Suit for specific performance of sale agreement Article: 54 - Specific performance of contract Base Period: 3 years Starting Point: June 15, 2020 (refusal to perform) CALCULATION: 1. Basic Expiry: June 15, 2023 2. Section 14 Exclusion: + 0 days (no prior litigation) 3. COVID-19 Extension: + 531 days (period expired during extension) 4. Other Extensions: + 0 days FINAL DEADLINE: November 28, 2024 Days Remaining: 328 days Status: ✓ WITHIN LIMITATION URGENCY: MEDIUM (>100 days remaining) ``` ## Calculation Script **File**: @scripts/limitation_calculator.py **Usage**: ```python from limitation_calculator import calculate_limitation result = calculate_limitation( article=54, starting_point="2020-06-15", prior_litigation_days=0, apply_covid=True ) print(result.final_deadline) # Output: 2024-11-28 print(result.days_remaining) # Output: 328 print(result.status) # Output: "WITHIN LIMITATION" ``` **Features**: - Handles all 137 Articles automatically - COVID-19 531-day calculation - Section 14 exclusion logic - Leap year adjustments - Business days vs calendar days - Time-bar warnings ## Integration ### With Protocols - IL-LIMITATION-001 references this skill for all calculations - All protocols cite with limitation warnings ### With Agents - Limitation-specialist agent uses this for all period calculations - Other agents invoke when analyzing time-sensitive matters ### With Commands - `/calculate-limitation <article> <start-date>` triggers this skill ### With Hooks - **limitation-warning** hook uses this to display countdown warnings ## Special Cases ### 1. Continuous Wrongs / Torts Fresh cause of action each day wrong continues ### 2. Fraudulent Concealment (Section 17) Limitation starts from date of discovery ### 3. Minor/Person of Unsound Mind (Sections 6-7) Limitation starts from attaining majority / regaining sanity ### 4. Legal Representative (Section 16) Limitation extended for estate legal representative ## Urgency Classification Based on days remaining: - **CRITICAL** (< 30 days): Immediate filing required - **HIGH** (30-100 days): File soon, prepare now - **MEDIUM** (100-365 days): Plan filing, gather evidence - **LOW** (> 365 days): Ample time, systematic preparation ## Common Errors to Avoid 1. ❌ Forgetting COVID-19 extension (531 days) 2. ❌ Using wrong starting point for Article 3. ❌ Confusing calendar days vs court working days 4. ❌ Assuming Section 5 condonation applies to suits (it doesn't) 5. ❌ Not checking if period expired during COVID extension period ## Tools Required This skill uses: - **Read**: Access reference files, Articles table - **Bash**: Execute Python calculation scripts ## Disclaimer This skill provides limitation period calculation assistance. It does not constitute legal advice. Always: - Verify Article applicability with advocate - File well before deadline (never on last day) - Consider Section 5 condonation unavailable for suits - Consult qualified advocates for time-critical matters - Note that limitation is MANDATORY bar under Section 3 **LAW IS A PRECISE ENDEAVOR. LIMITATION CALCULATIONS REQUIRE ABSOLUTE ACCURACY.** --- **Skill Version**: 1.0.0 **Last Updated**: 2025-12-05 **Part of**: Indian Law Knowledge Ecosystem **Dependencies**: None **Critical Skill**: Time-sensitive legal deadlines