If a Corporate Debtor writes to the Creditor requesting him to send his claim for verification and payment, it amounts to an acknowledgment. But if the Corporate Debtor merely says, without admitting liability, it would like to examine the claim or the accounts, it may not amount to acknowledgment- Saurav Mukherjee vs. Oriental Bank of Commerce – NCLAT
A writing, to be treated as an acknowledgment of liability should consciously admit his liability to pay or admit his intention to pay the debt. Let us illustrate. If a creditor sends a demand notice demanding payment of Rs 1 lakh due under a promissory note executed by the debtor and the debtor sends a reply stating that he would pay the amount due, without mentioning the amount, it will still be an acknowledgment of liability. If a writing is relied on as an acknowledgment for extending the period of limitation in respect of the amount or right claimed in the suit, the acknowledgment should necessarily be in respect of the subject-matter of the suit. If a person executes a work and issues a demand letter making a claim for the amount due as per the final bill and the defendant agrees to verify the bill and pay the amount, the acknowledgment will save limitation for a suit for recovery of only such bill amount, but will not extend the limitation in regard to any fresh or additional claim for damages made in the suit, which was not a part of the bill or the demand letter. Again, we may illustrate. If a house is constructed under the item rate contract and the amount due in regard to work executed is Rs two lakhs and certain part-payments say aggregating to Rs 1,25,000 have been made and the contractor demands payment of the balance of Rs 75,000 due towards the bill and the employer acknowledges liability, that acknowledgment will be only in regard to the sum of Rs 75,000, which is due. If the contractor files a suit for recovery of the said Rs 75,000 due in regard to work done and also for recovery of Rs 50,000 as damages for breach by the employer and the said suit is filed beyond three years from completion of work and submission of the bill but within three years from the date of acknowledgment, the suit will be saved from bar of limitation only in regard to the liability that was acknowledged, namely, Rs 75,000 and not in regard to the fresh or additional claim of Rs 50,000 which was not the subject-matter of acknowledgment.
