Legal deadline calculators for India
Three statutory clocks that people miss, and what each one runs from. Missing one of these ends a claim however strong it was.
Cheque Bounce Notice Deadline Calculator
All three Section 138 clocks: 30 days to serve the notice, 15 for the drawer to pay, one month to file. Counted from receipt, not from despatch.
Consumer Court Limitation Period Calculator
Two years from the cause of action under Section 69 — with help deciding which date that actually is, which is the half that matters.
Criminal Complaint Time Limit Calculator
Six months, one year or three years under BNSS section 514 — counted from the right date, with the starting day excluded and excluded time added.
Default Bail Calculator
The 60- or 90-day detention limit under BNSS section 187, the police custody window, and undertrial release under section 479.
Income Tax Notice Deadline Calculator
How long the department has to issue a notice, and how long you have to answer it once one arrives.
Why Legal Deadlines Matter
Missing a legal deadline can permanently extinguish your right to claim — regardless of how strong your underlying complaint is. Indian consumer law has three critical deadlines that consumers commonly miss:
- 2-year limitation period under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 — from the date the cause of action arose.
- 30-day cheque bounce notice window under Section 138 NI Act — from receipt of dishonour memo.
- 30-day RBI Ombudsman wait period — must wait 30 days after bank complaint before filing at cms.rbi.org.in.
These calculators help you track your deadlines precisely so you never miss a filing window.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the limitation period for consumer complaints in India?
Under Section 69 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, a consumer complaint must be filed within 2 years from the date on which the cause of action arose. If filed after 2 years, you must give adequate reasons and the forum may condone the delay if satisfied with the explanation.
What is the deadline to send a legal notice for a cheque bounce?
Under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, after receiving the bank's cheque return memo you have 30 days to send a legal notice demanding payment. If payment is not made within 15 days of the notice, the cause of action arises on the expiry of that period, and Section 142(1)(b) requires the complaint to be filed within one month of that date.
When can I approach the RBI Ombudsman?
You can file at the RBI Integrated Ombudsman (cms.rbi.org.in) once the bank has either not responded to your complaint within 30 days, or responded in a way you are dissatisfied with. Check the current filing window on the eligibility checker before you rely on it — it is 90 days under the Reserve Bank – Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, 2026, not the year most guides still quote.
Which consumer commission handles my case — District, State, or National?
It is decided by what you paid for the goods or the service, not by the compensation you are claiming. Consideration paid up to ₹50 lakh goes to the District Commission, above ₹50 lakh and up to ₹2 crore to the State Commission, and above ₹2 crore to the National Commission. A ₹40,000 purchase stays in the District Commission however large the claim. The fee and jurisdiction estimator works it out and gives you the filing fee with it.
Which GetNyay tools are deadline calculators, and which are not?
The three on this page compute a statutory clock. The other tools answer different questions — what it costs to file, whether a body can take your complaint at all, what a case is worth, or what a document should say — and they are indexed on the tools hub, grouped by the problem rather than by the name of the tool.
Not a deadline question?
These three used to be listed on this page. They answer different questions, so they now sit on the hub with the rest.
- Consumer court fee and jurisdiction estimator — when you want to know what filing costs and which commission hears it.
- Maintenance scenario calculator — when you need an itemised household budget for a maintenance application.
- Affidavit of assets and liabilities generator — when a court has directed the disclosure affidavit, which is every maintenance case.