Articles 6 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.
The first Articles of Part II of the First Division, "Suits relating to contracts", cover everyday money claims: a seaman's wages, other wages, a hotel or lodging bill, claims against a carrier, hire of animals, vehicles, boats or furniture, and money advanced for goods not delivered. Each gives three years, but each has its own starting point.
This article follows the consolidated text of the Act consulted (latest amendment shown: Act 46 of 1999). Later amendments should be checked before you rely on it.
Articles 6 to 13 each give three years. The starting points differ: end of the voyage (seaman's wages), when the wages accrue due, when food or drink is delivered, when the price of lodging becomes payable, when loss or injury occurs (carrier, goods lost or injured), when the goods ought to be delivered (carrier non-delivery or delay; advance for goods), and when the hire becomes payable. A special or local law may fix its own period (section 29(2)).
The Articles as printed
| Article | Description of suit | Period of limitation | Time from which period begins to run |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | For a seaman's wages. | Three years. | The end of the voyage during which the wages are earned. |
| 7 | For wages in the case of any other person. | Three years. | When the wages accrue due. |
| 8 | For the price of food or drink sold by the keeper of a hotel, tavern or lodging-house. | Three years. | When the food or drink is delivered. |
| 9 | For the price of lodging. | Three years. | When the price becomes payable. |
| 10 | Against a carrier for compensation for losing or injuring goods. | Three years. | When the loss or injury occurs. |
| 11 | Against a carrier for compensation for non-delivery of, or delay in delivering, goods. | Three years. | When the goods ought to be delivered. |
| 12 | For the hire of animals, vehicles, boats or household furniture. | Three years. | When the hire becomes payable. |
| 13 | For the balance of money advanced in payment of goods to be delivered. | Three years. | When the goods ought to be delivered. |
These are suits, so they sit in the First Division. For the layout of the Schedule, see how to read the periods of limitation.
If you are owed wages, hire charges or a bill that is unpaid, a recovery suit consultation helps you fix the starting date before the three years run out.
Articles 6 and 7: wages
Article 6 is for "a seaman's wages". Time runs from "the end of the voyage during which the wages are earned". The starting point is the end of the voyage, not the date each day's wages were earned.
Article 7 is for "wages in the case of any other person". Time runs "when the wages accrue due". Article 7 is the general entry for wages of anyone who is not a seaman.
A date illustration for Article 7, with invented facts: Rakesh works for Singh Builders, and his wages for the month of March 2026 fall due on 5 April 2026. Time under Article 7 runs from 5 April 2026. Three years later is 5 April 2029, with section 12(1) excluding the first day. Wages that fall due in a different month have their own starting date.
Wage claims may also arise under special laws that fix their own periods. Section 29(2) says that where a special or local law prescribes a period, that period applies; this article does not state any such period. Check the law that governs the employment before using Article 7.
Articles 8 and 9: hotel, tavern, lodging-house and lodging
Article 8 covers "the price of food or drink sold by the keeper of a hotel, tavern or lodging-house", and time runs "when the food or drink is delivered". Article 9 covers "the price of lodging", and time runs "when the price becomes payable".
The two starting points differ. For food or drink it is delivery. For lodging it is when the price becomes payable. A date illustration: a guest takes a room and food at a hotel, the food is delivered on 12 September 2025, and the lodging price becomes payable on 15 September 2025. Under Article 8 the period for the food bill is counted from 12 September 2025, and under Article 9 the period for the lodging price is counted from 15 September 2025.
Articles 10 and 11: carrier
Article 10 is "against a carrier for compensation for losing or injuring goods", from "when the loss or injury occurs". Article 11 is "against a carrier for compensation for non-delivery of, or delay in delivering, goods", from "when the goods ought to be delivered".
| Claim | Article | Starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Goods lost or injured | 10 | When the loss or injury occurs |
| Goods not delivered, or delivered late | 11 | When the goods ought to be delivered |
The Schedule does not define "carrier". A date illustration: Sharma Traders hands goods to a carrier, who was to deliver them by 1 May 2026 and did not. Under Article 11 time runs from 1 May 2026, the date when the goods ought to be delivered. If instead the goods were delivered on time but found damaged because of an injury that occurred on 28 April 2026, Article 10 would run from 28 April 2026, the date the injury occurred. Which Article applies depends on the claim: loss or injury, or non-delivery or delay.
For the general law on compensation for breach of contract, see our post on breach of contract remedies and damages. The Schedule's Article 55, covered in Articles 54 and 55, applies to compensation for breach of contract "not herein specially provided for", so a claim that fits Article 10 or 11 is read under those Articles on the wording.
Article 12: hire
Article 12 is "for the hire of animals, vehicles, boats or household furniture", from "when the hire becomes payable". The list is specific: animals, vehicles, boats and household furniture. The Schedule does not mention other kinds of hire in this Article; a claim for hire of something else must be matched to the Article that fits it, and the text of this Article should be read on its own words.
A date illustration: a transport business hires out a vehicle, and the hire becomes payable on 1 July 2025. Time runs from 1 July 2025 and, with the first day excluded, three years end on 1 July 2028.
Article 13: money advanced for goods to be delivered
Article 13 is "for the balance of money advanced in payment of goods to be delivered", from "when the goods ought to be delivered". This is the Article for a buyer who has paid in advance and wants the balance back because the goods were not delivered. The starting point is the date the goods ought to have been delivered, not the date of the advance.
A date illustration: Mehra Foods pays Rs 2,00,000 in advance for goods due on 31 January 2026. Under Article 13, time runs from 31 January 2026 and, with section 12(1), three years end on 31 January 2029.
For the Article that follows, covering the price of goods sold and delivered, see Articles 14 to 18.
Sections that change the count
All eight Articles are subject to the Act's sections on computation:
- Section 12: the first day is excluded.
- Section 14: time in a wrong court.
- Section 15: stay, notice, sanction and the defendant's absence from India.
- Section 18 and section 19: acknowledgment and part payment.
Section 5 applies only to appeals and applications and does not rescue a late suit on any of these Articles. Section 29(2) lets a special or local law fix its own period; never apply these Articles to a proceeding under a tax, insolvency, company, arbitration, consumer, MSME or cheque dishonour law.
Need help recovering an unpaid claim?
Wages, hire charges, hotel bills and advances all start from different dates under these Articles. We can look at your papers and prepare a recovery suit with the right starting point in view.
Key takeaways
- Articles 6 to 13 each give three years.
- Seaman's wages run from the end of the voyage; other wages from when they accrue due.
- Food or drink at a hotel runs from delivery; lodging from when the price becomes payable.
- A carrier claim for loss or injury runs from when it occurs; for non-delivery or delay, from when the goods ought to be delivered.
- Hire runs from when it becomes payable; an advance for goods runs from when the goods ought to be delivered.
- Section 12 excludes the first day; sections 14, 15, 18 and 19 can change the count.
- A special or local law may fix a different period (section 29(2)).
Read next
- Articles 1–5: suits relating to accounts, agents and dissolved partnership
- Articles 14–18: price of goods sold and work done
- The Schedule: three Divisions and how to read the periods
- Section 12: exclusion of the day of judgment, copy time and pauper application
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.