# Lost in court? Your clock is ticking. > An appeal filed late is dismissed even if the other side never objects. Here are the deadlines for civil and criminal appeals, and what the Supreme Court says about delay. - Topic: Courts and procedure - For: Citizens - A 11-slide carousel: https://failegal.site/media/lost-in-court-your-clock-is-ticking-appeal - Published by FAI Legal on 2026-10-10 ## Myth or fact? What people tell themselves. - **Myth: I will appeal later, once I find a good lawyer.** - **Fact: An appeal filed after the deadline shall be dismissed, even if the other side never raises it (Limitation Act s.3).** ## Civil case. Your deadlines. Limitation Act, First Schedule. - **To the District Judge** Thirty days (Art. 152). - **To the High Court** Ninety days (Art. 156). - **Counted from** The date of the decree or order you are appealing. ## Criminal case. Your deadlines. Appeals under the CrPC. - **To a court other than the High Court** Thirty days (Art. 154). - **To the High Court** Sixty days (Art. 155). - **Counted from** The date of the sentence or order you are appealing. ## Quick quiz. Two weeks late. Guess first, then swipe for the answer. - **A. It is heard anyway** - **B. It is dismissed as time-barred** - **C. You pay a small fine** ## Answer: B. Dismissed. Section 3, Limitation Act, 1908. > "every suit instituted, appeal preferred, and application made after the period of limitation prescribed therefor by the First Schedule shall be dismissed although limitation has not been set up as a defence." (Limitation Act, 1908 · Section 3) ## Get the copy. Fast. Section 12 gives you the copying time. - **Apply at once** For a certified copy of the judgment and decree. - **Time excluded** The day of judgment, and the days from your copy application until the copy is ready (s.12(2), (5)). - **Then file** The rest of the deadline is still running. ## Already late? Explain every day. Section 5: sufficient cause. - **Each and every day** The delay of each day must be explained with convincing proof of good faith (2026 SCMR 1033, 2026 SCMR 190). - **Not good enough** Cold weather and a sick steno typist: delay not condoned (PLD 2021 SC 937). - **Too long** A 144-day delay was not saved by a Hajj trip of 30 to 40 days (2016 SCMR 1821). ## Myth or fact? The small delay hope. - **Myth: A few days late is fine. Courts always forgive it.** - **Fact: There is no automatic forgiveness. For condonation, each day's delay must be explained with proper justification (2022 SCMR 2089).** ## Lost a case this month? Ask FAI in your own words. It answers with the exact deadline and the judgments behind it. - **The civil court decided against me on 2 October. By when must I appeal?** - **Grounds for condonation of delay under section 5 of the Limitation Act.** ## What this does not mean - A late appeal is not saved just because the other side never objects (Limitation Act s.3). - Delay is not forgiven automatically. Each day must be explained under s.5 with proof of good faith. - Copying time under s.12 excludes only the day of judgment and the days the copy takes. The rest of the deadline keeps running. ## Questions people ask ### What is the time limit for a civil appeal in Pakistan? Thirty days to the District Judge (Art. 152) and ninety days to the High Court (Art. 156), counted from the date of the decree or order. ### What is the time limit for a criminal appeal in Pakistan? Thirty days to a court other than the High Court (Art. 154) and sixty days to the High Court (Art. 155), counted from the date of the sentence or order. ### What happens if an appeal is filed late? It shall be dismissed, even if the other side does not raise limitation as a defence (Limitation Act s.3). ### Is the time for getting a certified copy excluded? Yes. The day of judgment and the days from your copy application until the copy is ready are excluded (s.12(2), (5)). ### What is condonation of delay under section 5 of the Limitation Act? The court can accept a late appeal for sufficient cause, but each day of delay must be explained with convincing proof of good faith (2026 SCMR 1033, 2026 SCMR 190). Cold weather and a sick steno typist were not enough (PLD 2021 SC 937). ## Sources - Limitation Act, 1908 · Section 3: Dismissal of suits, etc. instituted, etc., after period of limitation --- Educational legal information, not legal advice. Every case turns on its own facts. Speak to a qualified lawyer about your situation. Review status: Pending advocate review. FAI Media is part of FAI Legal (https://failegal.site), research on Pakistani statutes and judgments. Free to watch and read.