LIMITATION OF SUITS, APPEALS AND APPLICATIONS
Section 3. Bar of limitation –
(1) 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.
(2) For the purposes of this Act-
(a) A suit is instituted-
(i) In an ordinary case, when the plaint is presented to the proper officer;
(ii) In the case of a pauper, when his application for leave to sue as a pauper is made; and
(iii) In the case of a claim against a company which is being wound up by the court, when the claimant first sends in his claim to the official liquidator;
(b)Any claim by way of a set off or a counter claim, shall be treated as a separate suit and shall be deemed to have been instituted-
(i) In the case of a set off, on the same date as the suit in which the set off is pleaded;
(ii) In the case of a counter claim; on the date on which the counter claim is made in court;
(c) An application by notice of motion in a High Court is made when the application is presented to the proper officer of that court.