#Section 468 CrPC

The Supreme Court clarifies that the limitation period under Section 468 CrPC begins from the date of the FIR or complaint filing, not when the magistrate takes cognizance. This ruling overturns the High Court’s quashing of the FIR, reinforcing that delayed charge-sheets beyond the prescribed period will attract the bar of limitation, impacting criminal proceedings nationwide.

The Punjab & Haryana High Court ruled that Magistrates must assess the limitation period under Section 468 CrPC at the summoning stage itself, not post-trial. The Court quashed a complaint under the Insecticides Act filed six years after the offence, emphasizing that mechanical summoning orders violate procedural fairness and prejudice accused rights.

Delhi High Court holds that limitation for filing chargesheet under CrPC begins when police first learn of the offence, not upon FIR registration. Key ruling on Sections 468, 469 CrPC.

Bombay High Court dismisses criminal revision, holding that complaints filed beyond limitation period under Section 468 CrPC cannot sustain charges for offences punishable by up to one year.