Provisions of the Supreme People's Court on the Statute of Limitation with Respect to Invalid Contracts (Draft for Solicitation of Opinions)

最高人民法院关于无效合同所涉诉讼时效问题的规定（征求意见稿）

Promulgating Institution: Supreme People's Court

Promulgating Date: 11/17/2010

Effective Date: 11/17/2010

颁布机关: 最高人民法院

颁布时间: 11/17/2010

实施时间: 11/17/2010

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正文

In order to maintain the public order of the society, protect the legal interest of the parties concerned and apply the laws correctly, these Provisions are formulated in accordance with the provisions of the General Principles of the Civil Law of the People's Republic of China, the Real Right Law of the People's Republic of China, the Contract Law of the People's Republic of China, the Guarantee Law of the People's Republic of China and the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China and other laws and based on the adjudication practice.

    为维护社会公共秩序,保护当事人的合法权益,正确适用法律,依照《中华人民共和国民法通则》、《中华人民共和国物权法》、《中华人民共和国合同法》、《中华人民共和国担保法》、《中华人民共和国民事诉讼法》等法律的规定,结合审判实践,制定本规定。

   Article 1   (Whether the statute of limitation is applicable to the right of claim involved in an invalid contract)

The people's court shall not uphold the statute of limitation defense raised by the party concerned against the right of claim with respect to contracts confirmed to be invalid, but the party concerned may raise the statute of limitation defense against the right of claim for the return of property and for compensation for losses that belong to the right of claim for creditor's right.

     第一条 (无效合同所涉请求权是否适用诉讼时效)

    当事人对确认合同无效请求权提出诉讼时效抗辩的,人民法院不予支持,但当事人可以对作为债权请求权的返还财产、赔偿损失请求权提出诉讼时效抗辩。

   Article 2   (Commencement of the statute of limitation for the right of claim for the return of property and for compensation for loss)

Proposal 1. If the contract is invalid and a party concerned requests the other party concerned to return the property and compensate for loss, the statute of limitation shall be counted from the date on which the contract is confirmed to be invalid. However, the people's court shall not uphold the statute of limitation defense raised by the party concerned after more than 20 years from the date on which the performance period of the contract expires.

Proposal 2. If the contract is invalid and a party concerned requests the other party concerned to return the property and compensate for loss, the statute of limitation shall be counted from the date on which the performance period of the contract expires.

Proposal 3. If the performance period of the contract expires but the contract has not been performed or fully performed and a party concerned in the legal relationship of the contract requests the other party concerned to return the property and compensate for loss, the statute of limitation shall be counted from the date on which the performance period of the contract expires.

For situations other than those specified in the preceding paragraphs, the statute of limitation shall be counted from the date on which the contract is confirmed to be invalid. However, the people's court shall not offer protection after 20 years from the date on which the performance period of the contract expires.

     第二条 (返还财产、赔偿损失请求权诉讼时效期间的起算)

    方案一、合同无效,当事人一方请求另一方返还财产、赔偿损失的,诉讼时效期间从合同被确认无效之日起计算,但自合同履行期限届满之日起超过二十年,当事人一方提出诉讼时效抗辩的,人民法院不予支持。

    方案二、合同无效,一方当事人请求另一方当事人返还财产、赔偿损失的,诉讼时效期间从合同履行期限届满之日起计算。

    方案三、合同履行期限届满,合同尚未履行或者未完全履行的,合同法律关系中的一方当事人请求另一方当事人返还财产、赔偿损失的,诉讼时效期间从履行期限届满之日起计算。

    前款之外其他情形,诉讼时效期间从合同被确认无效之日起计算,但自合同履行期限届满之日起超过二十年的,人民法院不予保护。

   Article 3   (Commencement of the statute of limitation for the right of claim for compensation for loss due to invalid guarantee contract)

Proposal 1. If the guarantee contract is invalid and the creditor requests the guarantor to compensate for loss, the statute of limitation shall be counted from the date on which the guarantee contract is confirmed to be invalid. However, the people's court shall not uphold it if the creditor has not claimed the right against the guarantor during the guarantee period (Linked to the train of thought of Proposal 1 of Article 2.)

Proposal 2. If the guarantee contract is invalid, the creditor requests the guarantor to compensate for loss and has claimed the right against the joint guarantor during the guarantee period, the statute of limitation shall be counted from the date on which the right is claimed. The people's court shall not uphold it if the right has not been claimed. If the creditor has claimed the right against the general guarantor during the guarantee period, the statute of limitation shall be counted from the date on which the judgment or the arbitral award takes effect. The people's court shall not uphold it if the right has not been claimed. (Linked to the train of thought of Proposal 2 of Article 2.)

Proposal 3. If the guarantee contract is invalid, the creditor requests the guarantor to compensate for loss and has claimed the right against the joint guarantor during the guarantee period in situations where the performance period of the master contract has expired or the master contract has not been performed or fully performed, the statute of limitation shall be counted from the date on which the right is claimed. If the creditor has claimed the right against the general guarantor, the statute of limitation shall be counted from the date on which the judgment or the arbitral award takes effect. The people's court shall not uphold it if the creditor has not claimed the right against the guarantor during the guarantee period.

For situations other than those specified in the preceding paragraphs, the statute of limitation shall be counted from the date on which the guarantee contract is confirmed to be invalid. However, the people's court shall not uphold it if the creditor has not claimed the right against the guarantor during the guarantee period. (Linked to the train of thought of Proposal 3 of Article 2.)

     第三条 (因保证合同无效产生的赔偿损失请求权的诉讼时效期间起算)

    方案一、保证合同无效,债权人请求保证人赔偿损失的,诉讼时效期间从保证合同被确认无效之日起计算,但债权人在保证期间内未向保证人主张权利,人民法院不予支持(同第二条方案一的思路相衔接)。

    方案二、保证合同无效,债权人请求保证人赔偿损失,其在保证期间内向连带保证人主张权利的,诉讼时效期间从主张权利之日起计算;未主张过权利的,人民法院不予支持。其在保证期间内向一般保证人主张权利的,诉讼时效期间从判决或者仲裁裁决生效之日起计算;未主张权利的,人民法院不予支持(同第二条方案二的思路相衔接)。

    方案三、保证合同无效,债权人请求保证人赔偿损失,在主合同履行期限届满,主合同尚未履行或者未完全履行的情形下,其在保证期间内,向连带保证人主张权利的,诉讼时效期间从主张权利之日起计算;向一般保证人主张权利的,诉讼时效期间从判决或者仲裁裁决生效之日起计算。在保证期间内,债权人未向保证人主张权利的,人民法院不予支持。

    前款之外其他情形,诉讼时效期间从保证合同被确认无效之日起计算,但债权人在保证期间内未向保证人主张权利的,人民法院不予支持(同第二条方案三的思路相衔接)。

   Article 4   (Commencement of the statute of limitation for the right of claim for compensation for loss due to invalid mortgage contract)

Proposal 1. If the mortgage contract is invalid and the creditor requests the mortgagor to compensate for loss, the statute of limitation shall be counted from the date on which the mortgage contract is confirmed to be invalid. However, the people's court shall not uphold it if the creditor has not claimed the right against the mortgagor during the period in which the mortgage right is exercised. (Linked to the train of thought of Proposal 1 of Article 2.)

Proposal 2. If the mortgage contract is invalid, the creditor requests the mortgagor to compensate for loss and the mortgagee has claimed the right against the mortgagor during the period in which the mortgage right is exercised, the statute of limitation shall be counted from the date on which the right is claimed. The people's court shall not uphold it if the right has not been claimed. (Linked to the train of thought of Proposal 2 of Article 2.)

Proposal 3. If the mortgage contract is invalid, the creditor requests the mortgagor to compensate for loss and the mortgagee has claimed the right against the mortgagor during the period in which the mortgage right is exercised in situations where the performance period of the master contract has expired or the master contract has not been performed or fully performed, the statute of limitation shall be counted from the date on which the right is claimed. The people's court shall not uphold it if the right has not been claimed.

For situations other than those specified in the preceding paragraphs, the statute of limitation shall be counted from the date on which the mortgage contract is confirmed to be invalid. However, the people's court shall not uphold it if the mortgagee has not claimed the right during the period in which the mortgage right is exercised. (Linked to the train of thought of Proposal 3 of Article 2.)

     第四条 (因抵押合同无效而产生的赔偿损失请求权的诉讼时效期间起算)

    方案一、抵押合同无效,债权人请求抵押人赔偿损失,诉讼时效期间从抵押合同被确认无效之日起计算,但其未在抵押权行使期间内向抵押人主张权利的,人民法院不予支持(同第二条方案一的思路相衔接)。

    方案二、抵押合同无效,债权人请求抵押人赔偿损失,抵押权人在抵押权行使期间内向抵押人主张权利的,诉讼时效期间从主张权利之日起计算;未主张权利的,人民法院不予支持(同第二条方案二的思路相衔接)。

    方案三、抵押合同无效,债权人请求抵押人赔偿损失,在主合同履行期限届满,主合同尚未履行或者未完全履行的情形下,抵押权人在抵押权行使期间内向抵押人主张权利的,诉讼时效期间从主张权利之日起计算;未主张权利的,人民法院不予支持。

    前款之外其他情形,诉讼时效期间从抵押合同被确认无效之日起计算,但抵押权人未在抵押权行使期间内主张过权利的,人民法院不予支持(同第二条方案三的思路相衔接)。

   Article 5   (Commencement of the statute of limitation for the right of claim for compensation for loss due to invalid pledge contract or lien contract)

Proposal 1. If the pledge contract or lien contract is invalid and the creditor requests the guarantor to compensate for loss, the statute of limitation shall be counted from the date on which the contract is confirmed to be invalid. However, the people's court shall not support the statute of limitation defense raised by the party concerned after more than 20 years from the date on which the performance period of the contract expires. (This Article is not needed if the train of thought of Proposal 1 of Article 2 is adopted.)

Proposal 2. If the pledge contract or lien contract is invalid and the creditor requests the guarantor to return the property and compensate for loss, the statute of limitation shall be counted from the date on which the performance period of the master debt obligation expires. (Linked to the train of thought of Proposal 2 of Article 2.)

Proposal 3. If the pledge contract or lien contract is invalid and the creditor requests the guarantor to compensate for loss, the statute of limitation shall be counted from the date on which the performance period of the master debt obligation expires in situations where the performance period of the master contract has expired or the master contract has not been performed or fully performed.

For situations other than those specified in the preceding paragraphs, the statute of limitation shall be counted from the date on which the guarantee contract is confirmed to be invalid. However, the people's court shall not support the statute of limitation defense raised by the party concerned after more than 20 years from the date on which the performance period of the contract expires. (Linked to the train of thought of Proposal 3 of Article 2.)

     第五条 (因质押合同、留置合同无效产生的赔偿损失请求权的诉讼时效期间起算)

    方案一、质押合同、留置合同无效,债权人请求担保人赔偿损失的,诉讼时效期间从合同被确认无效之日起计算,但自合同履行期限届满之日起超过二十年的,对当事人一方的诉讼时效抗辩,人民法院不予支持(如采纳同第二条方案一的思路,此条无必要)。

    方案二、质押合同、留置合同无效,债权人请求担保人返还财产、赔偿损失的,诉讼时效期间从主债务履行期限届满之日起计算(同第二条方案二的思路相衔接)。

    方案三、质押合同、留置合同合同无效,债权人请求担保人赔偿损失责任的,在主合同履行期限届满,主合同尚未履行或者未完全履行的情形下,诉讼时效期间从主债务履行期限届满之日起计算。

    前款之外其他情形,诉讼时效期间从担保合同被确认无效之日起计算,但自合同履行期限届满之日起超过二十年的,对当事人一方的诉讼时效抗辩,人民法院不予支持(同第二条方案三的思路相衔接)。

   Article 6   (The issue of retroactive effect)

After coming into force, these Provisions shall apply to a case which is still at the stage of the first instance or second instance, and shall not apply to a case of which the final trial has been concluded and which is retried in accordance with the law.

     第六条 （溯及力问题）

    本规定施行后，案件仍在一审或二审阶段的，适用本规定;已审结的案件，依法进行再审的，不适用本规定。