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Section10
The General Clauses Act, 1897

Computation of time

In force From 11 Mar 1897 Act 10 of 1897 As on 15 Oct 2026

Act 10 of 1897 Ministry Law and Justice Enacted 11 Mar 1897 In force 11 Mar 1897

Section 10 of the General Clauses Act, 1897 deals with computation of time. Where, by any [Central Act] or Regulation made after the commencement of this Act, any act or proceeding is directed or allowed to be done or taken in any Court or office on a certain day or within a prescribed period, then, if the Court or office is closed on that day or the last day of the prescri The Act came into force on 11 Mar 1897.

(1) Where, by any 1[Central Act] or Regulation made after the commencement of this Act, any act or proceeding is directed or allowed to be done or taken in any Court or office on a certain day or within a prescribed period, then, if the Court or office is closed on that day or the last day of the prescribed period, the act or proceeding shall be considered as done or taken in due time if it is done or taken on the next day afterwards on which the Court or office is open:

Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to any act or proceeding to which the 2Indian Limitation Act, 1877 (15 of 1877), applies.

(2) This section applies also to all 3[Central Acts] and Regulations made on or after the fourteenth day of January, 1887.

Section 10, The General Clauses Act, 1897 (Act 10 of 1897).

Related judgements & precedents

These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.

  1. Sagufa Ahmed vs Upper Assam Plywood Products Pvt. LTD

    Supreme Court of India 18 Sep 2020 Binding (SC) Reportable

    Court's Decision & Legal Precedent

    The period of limitation prescribed under Section 421(3) of the Companies Act, 2013 for filing an appeal to the NCLAT starts from the date on which a copy of the NCLT order is made available to the person aggrieved. The Supreme Court's order dated 23.03.2020 extending the period of limitation due to COVID-19 applies only to the 'prescribed period' (the period of limitation) and not to the discretionary period for condonation of delay provided in the proviso to Section 421(3). The discretionary period for condonation of delay is limited to 45 days and cannot be extended by the COVID-19 extension order. The law of limitation is based on the principle of vigilance, and litigants who fail to file proceedings within the prescribed period and the discretionary condonation period cannot claim the benefit of the COVID-19 extension order.

    On this section: Provides that if a prescribed period expires on a day when the court is closed, the act can be done on the next day the court is open; establishes the principle that closure of court extends time

    Read the full order on eCourts India

The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.

Questions about Section 10

What have the courts held on Section 10 of the General Clauses Act?

Sagufa Ahmed vs Upper Assam Plywood Products Pvt. LTD (18 Sep 2020) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Provides that if a prescribed period expires on a day when the court is closed, the act can be done on the next day the court is open; establishes the principle that closure of court extends time.

How do I find court cases under Section 10 of the General Clauses Act?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: General Clauses Act 10, section 10 General Clauses Act, section 10 of the General Clauses Act. People searching for it also type general clauses act 1897 10 of 1897. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Sagufa Ahmed vs Upper Assam Plywood Products Pvt. LTD (18 Sep 2020).

When did Section 10 of the General Clauses Act come into force?

Section 10 of the General Clauses Act, cited as General Clauses Act 10, came into force on 11 Mar 1897, having been enacted on 11 Mar 1897. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.