Articles 72 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.
Defamation, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and a handful of other civil wrongs have very short limitation periods. Articles 72 to 84 of the Schedule to the Limitation Act, 1963 give one year for most of them and two years for a few. Because the time is short, the starting date needs to be fixed at once, and the legal notice, if any, should go out early.
The text below follows the consolidated text of the Act consulted (latest amendment shown: Act 46 of 1999). Later amendments should be checked.
A suit for compensation for libel runs one year from when the libel is published (Article 75); for slander, one year from when the words are spoken or, if the words are not actionable in themselves, from when the special damage results (Article 76). False imprisonment (Article 73) runs from when the imprisonment ends and malicious prosecution (Article 74) from the acquittal or other termination. Articles 82 to 84 give two years. A late suit is liable to be dismissed under section 3.
Where these Articles sit
Articles 72 to 84 are in the First Division (suits), Part VII (suits relating to tort). Section 2(m) of the Act says "tort" means a civil wrong which is not exclusively the breach of a contract or the breach of a trust. A legal notice is often the first step in a defamation or similar dispute, and with a one-year period it is worth sending without delay. Our guide to 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | For compensation for doing or for omitting to do an act alleged to be in pursuance of any enactment in force for the time being in the territories to which this Act extends. | One year. | When the act or omission takes place. |
| 73 | For compensation for false imprisonment. | One year. | When the imprisonment ends. |
| 74 | For compensation for a malicious prosecution. | One year. | When the plaintiff is acquitted or the prosecution is otherwise terminated. |
| 75 | For compensation for libel. | One year. | When the libel is published. |
| 76 | For compensation for slander. | One year. | When the words are spoken, or, if the words are not actionable in themselves, when the special damage complained of results. |
| 77 | For compensation for loss of service occasioned by the seduction of the plaintiff's servant or daughter. | One year. | When the loss occurs. |
| 78 | For compensation for inducing a person to break a contract with the plaintiff. | One year. | The date of the breach. |
| 79 | For compensation for an illegal, irregular or excessive distress. | One year. | The date of the distress. |
| 80 | For compensation for wrongful seizure of movable property under legal process. | One year. | The date of the seizure. |
| 81 | By executors, administrators or representatives under the Legal Representatives' Suits Act, 1855 (12 of 1855). | One year. | The date of the death of the person wronged. |
| 82 | By executors, administrators or representatives under the Indian Fatal Accidents Act, 1855 (13 of 1855). | Two years. | The date of the death of the person killed. |
| 83 | Under the Legal Representatives' Suits Act, 1855 (12 of 1855), against an executor, an administrator or any other representative. | Two years. | When the wrong complained of is done. |
| 84 | Against one who, having a right to use property for specific purposes, perverts it to other purposes. | Two years. | When the perversion first becomes known to the person injured thereby. |
Article by Article with dates
Under section 12(1), the day from which the period is reckoned is excluded. One year from a date ends on the same date a year later, and two years on the same date two years later.
Article 72: acts done under an enactment. A suit for compensation for doing or omitting to do an act alleged to be in pursuance of an enactment in force in the territories to which the Act extends. If the act was on 1 October 2023, the one year ends on 1 October 2024.
Article 73: false imprisonment. The period starts "when the imprisonment ends". A person released on 20 March 2024 has until 20 March 2025.
Article 74: malicious prosecution. The period starts "when the plaintiff is acquitted or the prosecution is otherwise terminated". An acquittal on 15 July 2024 gives an end date of 15 July 2025.
Article 75: libel. The period starts "when the libel is published". A defamatory article published on 14 February 2024 gives an end date of 14 February 2025. The Act does not define libel or say how to treat an article that stays online; the text is silent beyond "published".
Article 76: slander. The period starts "when the words are spoken". If the words are not actionable in themselves, it starts "when the special damage complained of results". A false remark spoken at a meeting on 9 September 2023 gives an end date of 9 September 2024. If the words are not actionable in themselves and the special damage results on 3 November 2023, the end date is 3 November 2024. Section 23 of the Act also counts the period from the time the injury results for acts that are not actionable without special damage; see sections 22 to 24.
Article 77: loss of service. The Act's words are "loss of service occasioned by the seduction of the plaintiff's servant or daughter". In plain terms, the suit is by an employer or a father for the loss of the service. The period is one year "when the loss occurs".
Article 78: inducing breach of contract. One year from "the date of the breach". If the breach is on 12 May 2024, the end date is 12 May 2025.
Article 79: illegal, irregular or excessive distress. One year from "the date of the distress".
Article 80: wrongful seizure of movable property under legal process. One year from "the date of the seizure". A seizure on 8 January 2024 gives an end date of 8 January 2025.
Articles 81 to 83: the 1855 Acts. These name the Legal Representatives' Suits Act, 1855 (12 of 1855) and the Indian Fatal Accidents Act, 1855 (13 of 1855) as printed. Article 81 gives one year from the date of the death of the person wronged; Article 82 gives two years from the date of the death of the person killed; Article 83 gives two years from when the wrong complained of is done, for a suit under the 1855 Legal Representatives' Suits Act against an executor, administrator or other representative. The print is not brought up to date on these Acts; check the current law for the corresponding provision before relying on any of these three entries.
Article 84: perversion of property. The Article is against one who, having a right to use property for specific purposes, perverts it to other purposes. The period is two years from "when the perversion first becomes known to the person injured thereby". If it becomes known on 17 June 2024, the end date is 17 June 2026.
A short period needs early action
Because most of these suits must be filed within a year, a legal notice and a reply can easily consume the time. Our guides on legal notice format and drafting and replying to a legal notice show what each step involves. The Act does not say that sending a notice stops the period.
What can change the count
- Section 6: a legal disability when the period starts can postpone the count. See section 6.
- Section 14: time spent bona fide in a court without jurisdiction may be excluded. See section 14.
- Section 15: time during a stay or injunction may be excluded. See section 15.
- Section 22: in a continuing tort a fresh period begins at every moment the tort continues.
- 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 laws
Section 29(2) provides that where a special or local law prescribes a different period, that period applies. Claims against public bodies, consumer complaints and criminal complaints for defamation follow other laws; this article states none of their periods.
Need help with a legal notice or a short-limitation claim?
When the period is a year, the notice and the plaint need to be ready early. We can help you set out the facts, the dates and the proof in a legal notice that fits within the time you have.
Key takeaways
- Articles 72 to 81 give one year; Articles 82 to 84 give two years.
- Libel runs from publication; slander from the words spoken, or from the special damage if the words are not actionable in themselves.
- False imprisonment runs from the end of the imprisonment; malicious prosecution from acquittal or other termination.
- Articles 81 to 83 name the 1855 Acts as printed; check the current law for the corresponding provision.
- Section 5 does not extend the time to file a suit; a special or local law may fix a different period; later amendments should be checked.
Read next
- Articles 68–71: suits relating to movable property
- Articles 85–91: torts with a three-year period
- Sections 22–24 of the Limitation Act: continuing breach and continuing tort
- Legal notice: format, requirements and drafting tips
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.