#Statutory Timelines

The Karnataka High Court ruled that the 120-day deadline for filing written statements under the Commercial Courts Act, 2015, is absolute. Defendants lose the right to file beyond this period, regardless of court vacations or delays, unless immediate action is taken. This reinforces strict statutory timelines in commercial litigation, impacting defendants' procedural rights.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court ruled that failure to adhere to the 12-month statutory timeline under Section 29A of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act invalidates delays, even without a formal extension request. The court directed the arbitrator to pass the award in the NHAI land acquisition dispute by September 12, 2026, reinforcing arbitrator accountability and the binding nature of statutory deadlines for parties and tribunals alike.

Bombay High Court at Goa holds that failure to decide RTI applications within 30 days entitles applicants to information free of charge, reinforcing statutory timelines under Section 7.

Bombay High Court holds that administrative delays in corporate insurance firms do not constitute sufficient cause for condoning delay under Section 30 of the Workmen's Compensation Act.