Articles 124–129 of the Schedule to the Limitation Act, 1963: review, recording satisfaction, instalments, setting aside an execution sale and possession

Articles 124 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.

Once a judgment is given, the next steps are often applications: asking for a review, recording that a decree has been paid, asking to pay by instalments, or dealing with an execution sale. Articles 124 to 129 of the Schedule to the Limitation Act, 1963 set the time for six such applications. Five give thirty days and one, the application to set aside a sale in execution, gives sixty.

The text below follows the consolidated text of the Act consulted (latest amendment shown: Act 46 of 1999). Later amendments should be checked.

An application for review of a judgment by a court other than the Supreme Court (Article 124) has thirty days from the date of the decree or order. Recording an adjustment or satisfaction (Article 125) runs from when the payment or adjustment is made, and payment by instalments (Article 126) from the date of the decree, each for thirty days. Setting aside a sale in execution (Article 127) has sixty days from the date of the sale. Applications for possession by a dispossessed person (Article 128) and after removing obstruction (Article 129) have thirty days.

Where these Articles sit

Articles 124 to 129 are in the Third Division (applications), Part I (applications in specified cases). The column head still reads "Description of suit" although these are applications. For a decree-holder or judgment-debtor, the days after a decree or sale are the ones that matter, and a legal dispute resolution review of the order and the dates helps avoid a lost remedy. Our guide to how the Schedule is laid out explains the three columns.

Copied as printed:

A printing point on Article 127. In the print, the period is in square brackets, "", with a footnote marker on the line above. The footnote says "Sixty days" was substituted for "Thirty days" by Act 104 of 1976 (with effect from 9 September 1976, as printed). Read the period as sixty days.

Article by Article with dates

Under section 12(1), the day from which the period is reckoned is excluded, so day one is the day after the starting date. The examples use future dates for illustration only.

Article 124: review of a judgment. Thirty days from "the date of the decree or order", for a review by a court other than the Supreme Court. For a decree dated 5 March 2027, the thirty days end on 4 April 2027, before any time excluded under section 12(2). That sub-section says that in computing the period for an application for review of a judgment, the day on which the judgment was pronounced and the time requisite for obtaining a copy of the decree or order shall be excluded. See sections 12 and 13. The Schedule does not say when a review lies; that is for the procedural law.

Article 125: recording an adjustment or satisfaction. Thirty days "when the payment or adjustment is made". If the judgment-debtor pays on 10 June 2027, the thirty days end on 10 July 2027. For how decrees are enforced, see our post on execution of a decree.

Article 126: payment of a decree by instalments. Thirty days from "the date of the decree". A decree dated 14 September 2027 gives an end date of 14 October 2027. The Article starts on the decree date, not on the date of any notice of execution.

Article 127: setting aside a sale in execution. Sixty days from "the date of the sale", including an application by a judgment-debtor. A sale on 2 August 2027 gives an end date of 1 October 2027 (29 days left in August, 30 in September, and 1 in October). Do not confuse this application with a suit to set aside a court sale, which is covered by Article 99 in our article on Articles 97 to 100. Section 15(4) of the Act also excludes, in a suit for possession by a purchaser at a sale in execution of a decree, the time during which a proceeding to set aside the sale has been prosecuted.

Article 128: possession by one dispossessed. The application is by one dispossessed of immovable property and disputing the right of the decree-holder or purchaser at an execution sale. Thirty days from "the date of the dispossession". If dispossession is on 20 November 2027, the thirty days end on 20 December 2027.

Article 129: possession after removing resistance or obstruction. Thirty days from "the date of resistance or obstruction", for possession of immovable property decreed or sold in execution after removing resistance or obstruction to delivery. If the resistance is on 9 January 2027, the thirty days end on 8 February 2027. For the year-long period for a purchaser to ask for delivery of possession after a sale becomes absolute, see our article on Articles 134 to 137.

A note on section 5 and Order XXI

Section 5 allows an appeal or an application to be admitted after the prescribed period for sufficient cause, but it excludes "any application under any of the provisions of Order XXI of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908". The Schedule does not say which of these Articles describe applications under Order XXI; the Articles name execution without citing the Order. Read our article on section 5 and take advice before assuming that a late application can be admitted. Do not plan to rely on it.

What can change the count

• Section 12(2): the day of judgment and the time to obtain copies are excluded for a review.
• Section 4: if the last day falls when the court is closed, the application may be made on the day it re-opens. See sections 3 and 4.
• Section 15(1): where execution has been stayed by injunction or order, the time of the stay is excluded. See section 15.
• Section 14: time spent bona fide in a court without jurisdiction may be excluded.

Special laws

Section 29(2) provides that where a special or local law prescribes a different period for an application, that period applies. Recovery of dues under tax, bank-recovery and insolvency laws follows those laws; this article states none of their periods.

Need help after a decree or an execution sale?

The thirty-day and sixty-day periods start the day after the decree or sale, and they are short. We can help you read the order, fix the dates and plan the next step through legal dispute resolution.

Key takeaways

• Articles 124, 125, 126, 128 and 129 give thirty days; Article 127 (set aside an execution sale) gives sixty days from the date of the sale.
• Review runs from the decree or order; satisfaction from the payment or adjustment; instalments from the decree.
• Possession applications run from the dispossession (128) or the resistance or obstruction (129).
• In Article 127 the print shows "" in brackets, with a footnote on the 1976 substitution.
• Section 5 excludes applications under Order XXI; a special or local law may fix a different period; later amendments should be checked.

Read next

• Articles 118–123: leave to defend, award, legal representative, abatement and ex parte decree
• Articles 130–133: pauper appeal, revision and leave to appeal to the Supreme Court
• Articles 134–137: execution of decrees and the residuary article for applications
• Execution petition: decree enforcement procedure

Disclaimer: Based on a consolidated text of the Limitation Act, 1963 and its Schedule whose latest amendment shown is Act 46 of 1999, as consulted on 2 October 2026. A special or local law may fix a different period; later amendments and the current procedural law should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.