A law enacted by a State Legislature under item 3 of the State List, which deals with the administration of justice, does not conflict with a law enacted by Parliament under item 13 of the Concurrent List, which deals with limitation, and is therefore not ultra vires Article 254 of the Constitution.

( 1 ) IN the Rule and the application, which arise out of two appeals preferred on behalf of the Union of India beyond the period of limitation of 30 days prescribed by Section 8 (2) (a) of the City Civil Court Act, 1953, the principal question that arises for consideration is whether Section 8 (2) (a) is ultra vires Article 254 of the Constitution.

( 2 ) IT appears that the said two appeals arise out of two orders, both passed by the learned Chief Judge, City Civil Court. By one order be refused to set aside the award of the Arbitrator under Sections 30 and 33 of the Arbitration Act and by the other he set aside another award and remitted the matter to the Arbitrator. Section 8 (2) (a) of the City Civil Court Act, 1953 provides that the period of limitation for en appeal from a decree or order of the City Civil Court shall be thirty days from the date of such decree or order. The Union of India has, however, preferred the said two appeals beyond 30 days. The memoranda of appeals were returned by the Stamp Reporter to the learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the appellant and thereafter, two applications have been filed on behalf of the petitioner challenging the vires of Section 8 (2) (a ).

( 3 ) IT is contended by Mr. Sen, learned Advocate for the petitioner that the City Civil Court Act does not confer any right of appeal from the order passed by the City Civil Court setting aside or refusing to set aside an award, but the right of appeal has been conferred by Section 39 of the Arbitration Act and, as such, the period of limitation for preferring such appeals is 90 days as prescribed by Article 116 of the Limitation Act, 1963 which is a Central Act. We are unable to accept this contention. It is true that clause (vi) of Sub-section (1) of Section 39 specifically lays down that an appeal shall lie from an order setting aside or refusing to set aside an award. Sub-section (1), however, does not provide for any period of limitation for such an appeal, but it specifically lays down the forum to which the appeal, has to be filed. It says that an appeal shall lie from the orders specified under Sub-section (1) to the Court authorised by law to hear appeals from original decrees of the Court passing the order. By virtue of Sub-section (1), the impugned orders having been passed by the City Civil Court, appeals lie to this Court as provided in Section 8 (1) of the City Civil Court Act. It has been already noticed that Section 8 (2) (a) prescribes a period of limitation of 30 days for an appeal from a decree or order of the City Civil Court. The said two appeals which arise out of the orders of the City Civil Court arc governed by Section 8 (2) (a) for the purpose of limitation. The period of limitation for preferring the appeals is 30 days and not 90 days as contended.

( 4 ) IT is argued on behalf of the petitioner that the law of limitation is a matter under item 13 of the Concurrent List, and Parliament by virtue of its power derived from item 13 having enacted the Limitation Act, 1963, the provision of Section 8 (2) (a) of the City Civil Court Act is repugnant to Article 116 of the Limitation Act, 19 (33, and is consequently void in view of Article 254 (1) of the Constitution. This contention is without any substance. The City Civil Court Act, 1953 has not been enacted under item 13 but it has been enacted by the State Legislature in exercise of its powers under item 3 of the State List which is "administration of justice"; constitution and organisation of all courts, except the Supreme Court and the High Court; officers and servants of the High Court; procedure in rent and revenue courts; fees taken in all courts except the Supreme Court". The source of the City Civil Court Act is, therefore, item 3 of the State List and not item 13 of the Concurrent List. The question of repugnancy or encroachment will arise when the two enactments, one of Parliament and the other of the State Legislature, occupy