Articles 47 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.
Landlords chasing rent arrears, sellers waiting for the balance of a purchase price, and anyone who paid money for something that never arrived all turn to Articles 47 to 53 of the Schedule to the Limitation Act, 1963. Each of the seven Articles gives three years. What changes from one to the next is the event that starts the clock.
The text below follows the consolidated text of the Act consulted (latest amendment shown: Act 46 of 1999). Later amendments should be checked.
The suit for arrears of rent (Article 52) gives three years from when the arrears become due. Money paid on a consideration that fails (Article 47) runs from the date of the failure. Contribution claims (Articles 48 to 50) run from payment or from when the right to contribution accrues. Profits of immovable property (Article 51) run from when they are received. A vendor's suit for unpaid purchase-money (Article 53) runs from the time fixed for completing the sale, or the date of acceptance of title if later. Each period is three years.
Where these Articles sit
They are in the First Division (suits), Part II (suits relating to contracts). If you are owed rent or a part of a sale price, a recovery notice often precedes a suit. Our article on how the Schedule is laid out explains the three columns.
Copied as printed:
| Article | Description of suit | Period of limitation | Time from which period begins to run |
|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | For money paid upon an existing consideration which afterwards fails. | Three years. | The date of the failure. |
| 48 | For contribution by a party who has paid the whole or more than his share of the amount due under a joint decree, or by a sharer in a joint estate who has paid the whole or more than his share of the amount of revenue due from himself and his co-sharers. | Three years. | The date of the payment in excess of the plaintiff's own share. |
| 49 | By a co-trustee to enforce against the estate of a deceased trustee a claim for contribution. | Three years. | When the right to contribution accrues. |
| 50 | By the manager of a joint estate of an undivided family for contribution, in respect of a payment made by him on account of the estate. | Three years. | The date of the payment. |
| 51 | For the profits of immovable property belonging to the plaintiff which have been wrongfully received by the defendant. | Three years. | When the profits are received. |
| 52 | For arrears of rent. | Three years. | When the arrears become due. |
| 53 | By a vendor of immovable property for personal payment of unpaid purchase-money. | Three years. | The time fixed for completing the sale, or (where the title is accepted after the time fixed for completion) the date of the acceptance. |
Article by Article with dates
Section 12(1) excludes the day from which the period is reckoned, so three years from a date end on the same date three years later.
Article 47: money paid on a consideration that afterwards fails. A firm pays an advance of Rs 8,00,000 on 1 March 2023 for equipment to be delivered. The supplier's failure to deliver is established on 15 August 2023. The Article starts the period on "the date of the failure", so the three years end on 15 August 2026. The date of payment is not the starting point. Which date counts as the failure is a question of fact. For the Contract Act side of recovering money paid, see section 72.
Article 48: contribution under a joint decree or a joint estate. One judgment-debtor pays the whole decree on 20 September 2023, more than his own share. The period starts "the date of the payment in excess of the plaintiff's own share", and the three years end on 20 September 2026. The Article also covers a sharer in a joint estate who paid more than his share of the revenue due from himself and his co-sharers. For contribution among joint promisors, see sections 42 to 45 of the Indian Contract Act.
Article 49: a co-trustee against a deceased trustee's estate. The period starts "when the right to contribution accrues". The text does not say when that is in any particular case, so look at the payment or event that gave rise to the claim. See the post on liability of co-trustees.
Article 50: the manager of a joint family estate. The manager of an undivided family's joint estate sues for contribution after a payment on account of the estate. The period starts "the date of the payment". A payment on 2 May 2024 gives an end date of 2 May 2027.
Article 51: profits of immovable property wrongfully received. If a person wrongfully receives rent or produce belonging to you, the period starts "when the profits are received". Profits received on 11 January 2024 give an end date of 11 January 2027. Where profits were received over many months, the print's words point to the receipt, and the text does not say more on how to treat a series of receipts.
Article 52: arrears of rent. The period starts "when the arrears become due". Suppose the lease makes monthly rent payable by the 5th of each month, and the rent for April 2024 remained unpaid after 5 April 2024. Counting from that due date, the three years end on 5 April 2027. For the rent due on 5 May 2024, they end on 5 May 2027, and so on, month by month. The Article gives no longer or shorter period for a long-running tenancy. For the lease itself, see our post on lease of immovable property under the Transfer of Property Act. A suit to recover possession from a tenant is under Article 67 and not this Article; see our article on Articles 64 to 67.
Article 53: vendor's suit for unpaid purchase-money. A seller agrees on 1 May 2023 to complete a sale on 30 June 2023 and has not been paid the balance. The period starts at "the time fixed for completing the sale", so it ends on 30 June 2026. If the title is accepted after the time fixed for completion, say on 15 September 2023, the period starts from "the date of the acceptance" and ends on 15 September 2026. See our post on sale of immovable property.
What can change the count
- Sections 18 and 19: written acknowledgment, or a payment on account of a debt made and acknowledged as section 19 requires, before the period expires gives a fresh period. See section 18 and section 19.
- Section 20: an acknowledgment or payment by a joint contractor, partner or manager may or may not bind the others. See section 20.
- Section 4: a suit may be filed on the day the court re-opens if the last day fell when it was closed.
- Section 5 does not help a suit. It applies to appeals and applications only.
Special and local laws
Section 29(2) says that where a special or local law prescribes a different period for a suit, appeal or application, that period applies. Tenancy and rent matters are often dealt with by local laws; this article does not say what they provide. Check the law that applies to your premises and the forum in which the claim must be brought.
Checklist
- Match the claim to the Article: failed consideration, contribution, profits, rent or purchase-money.
- Fix the starting date from the lease, rent ledger, sale agreement, payment proof or decree.
- For rent, list each month's due date separately.
- Look for written acknowledgments and part payments.
- Compute the end date with section 12(1) in mind.
Need help with rent arrears or unpaid purchase-money?
Dates on a rent ledger or a sale agreement decide how much of a claim is still in time. We can review the papers, send a recovery notice and prepare the claim in order.
Key takeaways
- Articles 47 to 53 each give three years.
- Arrears of rent run from when the arrears become due (Article 52).
- Failed consideration runs from the date of the failure (Article 47).
- Contribution claims run from payment (Articles 48, 50) or accrual (Article 49).
- Profits run from receipt (Article 51); a vendor's purchase-money from the time fixed for completion or the later acceptance of title (Article 53).
- Section 5 does not apply to suits; a special or local law may fix a different period; later amendments should be checked.
Read next
- Articles 42–46: surety, insurance policies, premia and refund of a legacy
- Articles 54–55: specific performance and compensation for breach of contract
- Articles 19–25: money lent, deposits, money paid or received and interest
- Lease of immovable property under section 105 of the Transfer of Property Act
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.