Summarize the following court judgment. Appeals Nos. 116	 117 and 119 of 1967. Appeals from the judgment and decrees dated May 19	 1966 of the Allahabad High Court in First Appeals Nos. 441 of 1950	 198 of 1952 and 442 of 1950 respectively. section V. Gupte	 section T. Desai	 J. P. Goyal and G. N. Wantoo	 (or the appellants (in all the appeals). Sidhartha Ray	 A. K. Sen	 Rameshwar Nath	 Krishna Sen and Swaranjit Sodhi	 for the respondent (in all the appeals). The Judgment of the Court was delivered by Shelat	 J. Prior to January 18	 1944 M/s. Lakshmiratan Cotton Mills Co. Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the appellant company)	 Aluminium Corporation of India Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the corporation	 J.K. Limited	 Beharilal Kailashpat India Supplies	 Northern India Trading Co.	 and Northern India Brush Manufacturing Co. Ltd. were all jointly managed by two	 groups	 who may conveniently be called the Singhania and the Gupta groups. Disputes having arisen between them	 they were referred to arbitration by a deed of reference	 dated December 9	 1943. It is not necessary to go into the details of the award	 dated January 18	 1944	 by which these disputes were adjudi 626 cated upon except that from and after the date of the award the aforesaid concerns were brought under the management and 	control of one or the other of the said two groups. The corporation came under the control and management of the Singhania group. Cl. 9 of the award provided as follows "The above award or directions in respect of Laxmi Ratan Cotton Mills Co. Ltd.	 Aluminium Corporation of India Ltd.	 J. K. Ltd.	 Beharilal Kailashpat India Supplies	 Northern India Trading Co. and Northern Brush Manufacturing Co. do not cover the advances which either party or their separate firms may have made to all or any of them or their moneys which may be in deposit with them and they shall be payable and paid in their usual course." According to the appellants	 there existed in their trading books :accounts in respect of amounts advanced or spent by them for	 ' the corporation in respect of which cl. (9) of the award specifically made provision for and also for interest due thereon. After the award was made the appellant company sent a statement of account to the corporation	 but this was objected to on the ground that the appellant company	 during the course	 of the previous joint management of the corporation	 had not properly maintained the accounts and that several items were either not properly accounted for or entered into. Correspondence thereafter ensued between the parties. The parties also appointed their respective officers to meet and reconcile their respective accounts the corporation being represented by its Secretary cum	Chief Accountant	 one Subramanayam	 and the appellant company sometimes by one Arora and at other times by one Newatia. Since no settlement could be arrived at	 the appellants filed two suits claiming Rs. 3	56	207 9 6 and Rs. 72	595 4 6 from the corporation	 being Suit Nos. 63 and 65 of 1949. In para 14 of the plaint in Suit No. 63 of 1949	 it was claimed that the suit was within time as after adjustment of several items in 1946 and 1947 a sum of Rs. 2	96	110 11 6 was found due to the appellant company and that in any event the suit was saved from being barred by limitation by a letter 	dated April 16	 1946 addressed by the said Subramanayam	 thereby acknowledging the liability of the corporation to pay the amount which would be found due and payable under the said accounts. Similar averments were also made in the plaint in Suit No. 65 of 1949. The written statements filed by the corporation inter alia pleaded that the said claims were	 barred by limitation	 627 LAKSHMIRATAN COTTON MILLS V. ALUMINIUM CORP. 627 (Shelat	 J.) that the said letter did not amount to an acknowledgement within the meaning of section 19 of the Limitation Act	 1908 which was then applicable to the suits	 and lastly	 that even if the said letter did amount to an acknowledgment	 it was not binding on the corporation as the said Subramanayam had no authority to make any such acknowledgement for and on behalf of and binding on the corporation. On the question of limitation	 the Trial Court raised three questions for its determination; (1) whether the letter (exhibit 1) was binding on the corporation	 (2) whether it amounted to an acknowledgement	 and (3) if so	 whether it would extend the period of limitation so as to save the claims made by the appellants	 from being barred. On consideration of the	 evidence	 both oral and documentary	 the Trial Court held in favour of the appellants on all the three questions and passed decrees in both the suits. Three appeals were filed in the High Court against those decrees	 two by the corporation and the third by the appellant company as the claim allowed in its favour was for a reduced amount. As framed by the High Court	 the question common to all the three appeals was whether the said letter (exhibit 1) amounted to an acknowledgement extending the period of limitation. The High Court	 on consideration of the correspondence between the parties and the other evidence	 reached the conclusion that the letter (exhibit 1) was "merely explanatory" and was not	 meant to bind the corporation	 that even if it did amount to " some kind of acknowledgement"	 its author	 the said Subramanayam	 bad no authority to acknowledge any debt or liability on behalf of the corporation. In this view the High Court held the two suits barred by limitation and allowed the corporations	 appeals. It rejected the appellant company 's appeal and dismissed the two suits. Hence these three appeals under certificates granted by the High Court. It was never disputed that	 except for the letter (exhibit 1) relied on by the appellant company	 provided it amounted to an acknowledgement binding on the corporation	 the claims of the	 appellants would be barred by limitation. Consequently	 the questions for determination in these appeals are the same as the ones before the High Court. These questions were canvassed before us in their three aspects; firstly	 whether the letter (exhibit 1) amounted to an acknowledgement	 secondly	 if it did	 whether it was an acknowledgement by the corporation	 and thirdly	 if not	 whether the said Subramanyam	 who addressed it	 had the authority express or implied	 to acknowledge liability on behalf of the I corporation so 'as to bind that corporation. Counsel for the appellant company sought to argue that in as much as the letter	 (exhibit 1) was written by the corporation 's 628 Secretary	 who also combined the position of the Chief Accountant	 and furthermore	 addressed that letter for and on behalf of the corporation	 the letter was of and by the corporation. Therefore	 if the letter amounts to an acknowledgement	 such acknowledgement would be by the corporation itself and no enquiry would then be necessary to ascertain whether the said Subramanayam had the authority to acknowledge the liability so as to bind the corporation. No such plea	 however	 is to be found in the plant which merely stated that "there are several letters constituting acknowledgement of the unsettled account. The plaintiff files one of such letters which is dated 16th April	 1946. " The written statement denied that the corporation	 ever made any acknowledgement or that the letter of April 16	 1946 was any such acknowledgement. It further denied that Subra manayam	 who wrote it	 had any authority to acknowledge any debt. Such a comprehensive denial notwithstanding	 no issue was raised covering the argument now urged that the said letter was and must be treated as one of or by the corporation	 and that therefore	 there was no question of Subramanayam having or not having the authority to make an acknowledgement on behalf of the corporation. No such argument also appears to have been made either in the Trial Court or the High Court where the controversy was centered around the question whether the said letter contained an acknowledgement and whether its writer	 addressing it on behalf of the corporation	 had the authority to make such an acknowledgement binding on the corporation. In our view Mr. Gupte could not	 at such a belated stage	 raise for the first time the plea that it was the corporation which through the said letter made the acknowledgement and that we should understand that letter to mean such an acknowledgement by the corporation itself. The question	 therefore	 that really arises for our determination is whether the said letter contains an acknowledgement	 which its writer	 Subramanyam	 had the authority	 express or implied	 to make. Even that question gets reduced in extent and scope as it was never the case of the appellant company at any stage that the corporation had clothed its Secretary with such authority expressly. Such a case Mr" Gupte did not make out even before us and proceeded in fact to argue that the evidence on record showed that he had such authority given to him impliedly. 19(1) of the Limitation Act	 1908 provides that where	 before the expiration of the period prescribed for a suit in respect of any property or right	 an acknowledgement of liability in respect of such property or right has been made in writing signed by the party against whom such property or right is claimed	 a fresh period of limitation shall be computed from the time 629 when the acknowledgement was so signed. The expression 'signed ' here means not only signed personally by such a party	 but also by an agent duly authorised in that behalf. Explanation 1 to the section then provides that an acknowledgement would be sufficient though it omits to specify the exact nature of the property or right	 or avers that the time for payment has not yet 	come	 or is accompanied by a refusal to pay or is coupled with a claim to a set off	 or is addressed to a person other than the person entitled to the property or right. The new Act of 1963 contains in section 18 substantially similar provisions. It is clear that the statement on which the plea of acknow ledgement is founded must relate to a subsisting liability as the section requires that it must be made before the expiration of the period prescribed under the Act. It need not	 however	 amount to a promise to pay	 for	 an acknowledgement does not create a new right to action but merely extends the period of limitation. The statement need not indicate the exact nature	 or the specific character of the liability. The words used in the statement in question	 however	 must relate to a present subsisting liability and indicate the existence of jural relationship	 between the parties	 such as	 for instance	 that of a debtor and a creditor	 and the intention to admit such jural relationship. Such an intention need not be in express terms and can be inferred by implication from the nature of the admission and the surrounding circumstances. Generally speaking	 a liberal construction of the statement in question should be given. That of course does not mean that where a statement is made without intending to admit the existence of jural relationship	 such intention should be fastened on the person making the statement by an involved and far fetched reasoning. (see Khan Bahadur Shapoor Freedom Mazda vs Durga Prosad Chamaria(1) And Tilak Ram vs Nathu(2). As Fry	 L.J.	 in Green vs Humphreys(3) said "an acknowledgement is an admission by the writer that there is a debt owing by him either to the receiver of the letter or to some other person on whose behalf the letter is received but it is not enough that he refers to a debt as being due from somebody. In order to take the case out of the statute there must upon the fair construction of the letter	 read in the light of the surrounding circumstances	 be an admission that the writer owes the debt. " As already stated	 the person making the acknowledgement can be both the debtor himself as also a person duly authorised by him to make the admission. In Khan Bahadur (1) (2) A. I. R. 	 at 938	 939. (3) at 481. 13 L436 Sup C 1/71 630 Shapoor Fredoom Mazda 's case(1) the Court accepted a statement in a letter by a bortgagor to a second mortgagee to save the mortgaged property from being sold away at a cheap price at the instance of the prior mortgagee by himself purchasing it as one amounting to an admission of the jural relationship of a mortgagor and mortgage&	 and therefore	 to an acknowledgement within section 19. Also	 an agreement of reference to arbitration containing an unqualified admission that whoever on account should be proved to 'be the debtor would pay to the other has been held to amount to an acknowledgement. Such an admission is not subject to the condition that before the agreement should operate as an acknowledgement	 the liability must be ascertained by the arbitrator. The acknowledgement operates whether the arbitrator acts or not. (see Tejpal Saraogi vs Lallanjee Jain(2)	 	approving Abdul Rahim Oosman & Co. vs Ojamshee Prushottamdas & Co. (3). The letter (exhibit 1) relied on as an acknowledgement was written to the appellant company by Subramanayam signing it "for Aluminium Corporation of India Ltd." it consists of Several paragraphs dealing with diverse items relating to different amounts 	claimed by the appellant company in a statement of claim previously sent by it to the corporation	 some of which are refuted by the writer	 while the others are accepted. The penultimate paragraph	 which is said to contain the admission	 reads as follows "After all the above adjustments	 the position will be as per statement attached. Interest has been provided on some balances and on others it has not been provided. We request you	 to confirm the balance of Rs. 1	07	477 13 11	 so that we may proceed with the calculation of interest and settle your claim once and for all immediately. Kindly acknowledge this letter and favour us with an immediate reply. " The letter speaks in the last sentence of a copy of it to be sent to Lala Purshottam Dasji Singhania "for information". The co of the letter	 as is clear from the other evidence as also the words "for information" was not sent for approval and was obviously not intended to be subject to such approval by Purushottam Singhania. The statement enclosed with the letter headed "Account of M/s. Lakshmiratan Cotton Mills Co. Ltd. ' and first sets out the balance of Rs. 1	00	760 0 7 in favour of (1) (2) C.A. No. 766 of 1962	 decided. on Feb. 8	 1965. (3) (1928) 1. L. R. 631 the appellant com any "as per our ledger"	 meaning the ledger of the corporation	 and the first foot note thereto states that that amount included interest of Rs. 26	490 11 10 calculated upto March 31	 1943. Several amounts due to other concerns payable to or by the appellant company are	 then adjusted and finally the balance is struck at Rs. 1	07	447 13 11 (which is the one mentioned in the letter (exhibit 1) which if confirmed by the appellant company	 the corporation would "settle your claim once and for all immediately." The High	 Court	 as aforesaid	 held	 contrary to the view of the Trial Court	 that these letter was only "explanatory" and was not intended to be an admission of liability or of the jural relationship between the parties as debtor and creditor. Counsel for the corporation also argued in support of the High Court 's view that the letter was written in the process of adjustment and reconciliation of the statement of claim addressed by the appellant company and a counter. statement to it by the corporation and therefore	 could not be held to be one intended as an admission of liability on the part of the corporation	 and that	 in any event	 Subramanayam	 who wrote it	 had no authority to acknowledge any such liability on behalf of the corporation. Before we proceed to inquire into the correctness or other wise of the High Court 's view in regard to the letter (exhibit 1)	 it would be necessary to examine the correspondence which previously ensued between the parties and the surrounding circumstances which led to that letter. As already stated	 under cl. (9) of the award by which the concerns	 once	 jointly controlled	 were separated	 moneys advanced by either of the parties or their firms or standing in deposit with them were to be payable by one to the other. The award also directed the Gupta group to hand over to the Singhanias account books and other papers and files relating to the corporation. Accordingly	 the Guptas handed them over to the corporation on February 1. 1944. The complaint of the corporation was that these books had not been properly posted up and contained discrepancies and that the corporation consequently required the help of the Guptas to finalise them. Early in March 1945	 the appellant company had also sent a statement of account in respect of the amounts due and payable to it by the corporation. On April 20	 1945	 one Col. Naidu	 a director of the corporation	 wrote to the appellant company pointing out from the said statement of account certain items which the corporation disputed. On 11th/12th September		 1945	 the appellant company sent a statement of account claiming Rs. 2	94	000 and odd as payable to it. On December 17	 1945	 63 2 a reply thereto was given by a letter sent by Lakshmipat Singhania	 the director incharge	 of the corporation	 mentioning various items disputed by the corporation and the efforts made by it to reconcile those items and enclosed with that reply a reconciliation statement showing the true position according to the corporation. Among other things	 the reply stated as follows "You will find from the above that we have tried our level best to see that these accounts are settled as early as possible as we have been very anxious for finalising but unfortunately	 there has been absolutely no response from your side. From the reconciliation statement you will find that according to our books amount due to the Laxmi Ratan Cotton Mills Co. Ltd.	 is Rs. 98	101 3 1 which includes interest calculated and credited to your account up to 31st March	 1943. The interest from that date till the date of settlement is further to be calculated when this account is properly reconciled and confirmed by you. " The reply pointed out that as against the said amount of Rs. 98	101 3 1 the corporation claimed Rs. 38	490 2 2 and Rs. 8	256 13 6 which	 according to it	 had to be adjusted. Lastly		 the reply threatened that unless the accounts were finalised within a month "we will not be paying you any interest on any of your dues beyond 30th September	 1945 ". The position	 as stated in the statement enclosed with the reply	 was as follows "Reconciliation of Accounts of M/s. Lakshmiratan Cotton Mills Co. Ltd. Balance as per A.C.I. Ltd. Books Rs. 98	101 3 1 Balance as per statement Rs. 2	94	658 0 9 Difference Rs. 1	96	556 13 8" Then followed detailed items claimed by the corporation totalling Rs. 1	96	556 13 8. The statement referred to above was the one under which the appellant company claimed Rs. 2	94	658 0 9 and which was sent earlier in March 1945 by Ram Ratan Gupta to Purushottam Singhania. The corporation took objection to it by claiming various amounts and against which	 according to the corporation	 only a sum of Rs. 98	.101 3 1 was payable by it "as per A.C.I. Ltd. Books that is to say	 as shown by the books of account maintained by the corporation. The reply of the appellant company	 dated December 6	 1945	 to the 633 of the appellant company	 dated December 6	 1945	 to the afore aforesaid letter of September 17	 1945 and the statement enclosed thereto shows that the said Arora on behalf of the appellant company and the said Subramanayam on behalf of the corporation met and tried to reconcile the accounts. The appellant company by this reply also sent particulars of certain items apparently called for by Subramanayam at that meeting and in its turn asked for particulars of certain items debited to it in the said reconciliation statement. On December 21	 1945	 Subra manayam replied to the appellant company 's letter of December 6	 1945. By that letter he conveyed two things	 (1) that in respect of certain items claimed by the appellant company and which were disputed	 those items were either passed or disallowed	 and (2) that since the appellant. company had combined in its statement of claim accounts of other allied concerns also	 he too had combined those accounts while preparing the statement of accounts he was sending along with his letter. The letter concluded by stating : "we herewith enclose a consolidated statement after merging all these accounts. " The consolidated state ment	 (exhibit 44) enclosed by Subramanayam with his reply	 reads as follows : "Accounts of Messrs Lakshmiratan Cotton Mills Co. Ltd. 1945 December 1. By balance as per our ledger Rs. 1	00	304 7 7 Then follow accounts of other concerns whose accounts were brought in in what Subramainayam called the consolidated statement of account. This statement reflected the position of the appellant company in the corporation 's books of accounts as on December 1	 1945. It will be noticed that the amount admitted in the statement by the corporation as due to the appellant company rose from Rs. 98	000 and odd (as per the earlier statement	 dated September 17	 1945) to Rs. 1	00	304 7 7. This increase was due to the fact that	 while adjusting the disputed items. Subramanayam had allowed and "passed" some of them between September and December 1945 when the disputed items were discussed and adjusted	 and entries relating to those which were passed were posted to the credit of the appellant company in the books of the corporation. The letter of December 21	 1945 was replied to by the appel lant company on February 25	 1946 by asking particulars in 63 4 respect of item claimed by Subramanayam in his said letter. It was in answer to this letter that Subramanayam wrote the letter (exhibit 1) in controversy and with which he sent the statement showing Rs. 1	07	447 13 11 as "Balance carried down". Correspondence continued thereafter between the parties	 the appellant company maintaining that a much larger amount was due to it than the sum of Rs. 1	07	447 13 11. Except that	 the later correspondence would not throw any light on the question as to acknowledgement	 and therefore	 we need now detain ourselves on it. Leaving aside for the time being the question as to Subra manayam 's authority	 the following facts emerge from the correspondence and the statements of accounts accompanying some of the letters sent on behalf of the corporation : (a) In pursuance of cl. (9) of the said award	 the appellant company sent to the corporation in the beginning of March 1945 a statement of account claiming Rs. 2	94	000 and odd as due to it. (b) At no time during the lengthy correspondence which ensued between the parties	 the corporation denied its liability to pay; what it did was. to dispute the correctness of the amount claimed by the appellant company by challenging certain items for which the appellant company claimed credit and by making certain counter claims of its own. As against the statement of account sent by the appellant company	 the corporation sent its own statement which it called the 'reconciliation account '. (c) During the process of adjustment and reconciliation of the several items claimed by the appellant company some were allowed and some were rejected	 and the corporation sought to debit certain items claimed by it against the appellant company. (d) According to the reconciliation statement sent by the corporation on September 17	 1945 only Rs. 98	000 and odd was due to the appellant company as against its claim for Rs. 2	94	000 and odd. Later	 this figure was raised from time to time as some of the items claimed by the appellant company were allowed 6 3 5 with the result that in the statement sent along with the letter (exhibit 1 ) the balance due to the appellant company was shown at Rs. 1	07	447. (e) The statements of accounts	 (Exs. 43 and 44) and the one enclosed with the letter	 (exhibit 1 ) in clear terms stated that the balances shown therein were as shown in the ledger maintained by the corporation. The letters equally clearly stated that interest on such balances was being credited up to certain dates and for the further period would be credited when the accounts were finalised. It must follow from these facts that there was a subsisting. account in the name of the appellant company in the books of the corporation in which interest on the balance shown therein from time to time was being credited and in which amounts in respect of items passed during the course of reconciliation were also being credited. The statement in the letter (exhibit 1) that "after all the above adjustments the position will be as per statement attached"	 that is to say	 that there was a balance of Rs. 1	07	447 13 11 due and payable to the	appellant company	 must clearly amount to an acknowledgement within the meaning of section 19(1). In our view if the letter (exhibit 1) were to be looked at in the background of the controversy between the parties	 which controversy was	 as aforesaid	 limited to the question as to the correctness of the amount claimed by the appellant company as also the correspondence which ensued in regard to it	 it would be impossible to say that the letter (exhibit 1) and the statement of account enclosed therewith were merely explanatory and did not amount to an admission of the jural relationship of debtor and creditor and of the liability to pay the amount found due at the foot of the account on finalisation. But the argument was that since the letter (exhibit 1) called for confirmation of the amount of Rs. 1	07	447 as being the balance due to the appellant company and. as the appellant company failed to confirm it	 the admission of liability was conditional	 and therefore	 cannot operate as an acknowledgement. In this connection the decision in Maniram vs Rupchand(1) was relied on and in particular the famous dictum of Mellish	 L.J.	 in In re River Steamer Co. vs Mitehell(2) approvingly cited therein. The dictum was that an acknowledgement to take the case out of the statute of limitation must be either one from which an absolute promise to pay can be inferred	 or secondly	 an (1) L. R. 33 1. A. 165. (2) L. R. 	 at 828. 636 unconditional promise to pay the specific debt	 or thirdly	 that there must be a conditional promise to pay the debt and evidence that the condition has been performed. The statement relied on in Maniram 's case(1) as an acknowledgement was by the respondent in a written statement filed by him in an earlier bate proceeding in which it was averred that the applicant chand Nanabhai (the respondent) "had for the last five ye open and current accounts with the deceased (the testator) that the alleged indebtedness did not affect his right to apply for probate"	 as one of the executors. It was held that the statement was sufficient to constitute an acknowledgement. "An unconditional acknowledgement"	 said their Lordships	 "has always been held to imply a promise to pay	 because that is the natural inference if nothing is said to the contrary. It is what every honest man would mean to do. There can be no reason for giving a different meaning to an acknowledgement that there is a right to have the accounts settled	 and no quali fication of the natural inference that whoever is the creditor shall be paid when the condition is performed by the ascertainment of a balance in favour of the claimant. It is a case of the third proportion of Mellish	 L.J.	 a conditional promise to pay and the condition performed. " We do not see how this decision can support the corporation since in the present case also there was an admission of a subsisting account on the finalisation of which the corporation was prepared to pay the balance found due at the foot thereof. The only dispute was what would such as balance	 Rs. 1	07	447	 according to the corporation	 a larger sum according to the appellant. company. The con firmation sought for in the letter (exhibit 1) was not a condition to the admission as to the existence of a subsisting account an the liability to pay when accounts were finalised	 but to the specific amount which	 according to the corporation	 would the amount payable by it. according to its calculation. The decision in	 Raja Kavali Arunachella Row Bahadur vs Sri R Rangiah App Row Bahadur(2) does not apply as the condition subject to which the settlement there was made was not performed	 and therefore	 the document was held to be one which could not be spelt out as an acknowledgement. In Rallapragada Ramamurthy vs Thammana Gopayva(3) also	 the letter relied on as an acknowledgement stated that if certain arbitrators should decide that the defendant should pay any amount he would immediately pay	 but if the arbitrators failed to decide the plaintiff might sue and the defendant in that case would not plead limitation. The arbitrators failed to decide. It was held that the letter being conditional and the condition not having been (1) L. R. 33 1A. 165. (2) [1906] 1. L. R. 29 mad. 519: (3) Mad. 637 performed did not operate as an acknowledgement. This deci sion too has no bearing on the facts of the present case. Unlike the cases relied on by Mr. Sen	 the present case is one of an admission of a subsisting	 account and the jural relationship and the liability to pay whatever amount would be found due on finalisation of accounts. There is no condition subject to which the admission was made which remained unperformed. Ordinarily	 the functions of Subramanym as the secretary of the corporation would be ministerial and administrative. As a secretary only	 he would have no authority to bind the corporation by entering into contracts or other commitments on its behalf. As the chief accountant and holder of a power of attorney	 his functions in regard to the former would be to supervise over maintenance of proper accounts	 and in regard to the latter to look after and represent the corporation in litigation. None of these three positions held by him would by itself or cumulatively make him a person duly authorised to make an acknowledgement binding on the corporation. Also	 the fact that he carried on correspondence for the corporation would not make him a	 person authorised to make an acknowledgement binding on the corporation. [see Uma Shankar vs Gobind Narain(1)]. But such a description of the functions and duties perfomed by him would not be complete. If the correspondence together with the statements of accounts encolsed therewith is closely examined it becomes clear that he was authorised to scrutinise the claim made by the appellant company	 the various items for which the appellant company claimed credit and to reject some	 and what is important	 to allow the others. That he had such an authority is clear from the fact that in respect of such of the items which he allowed credit was given to the appellant company and necessary entries to the credit of the appellant company were posted in the account maintained by the corporation in its books of account. Thus	 in the reconciliation statement (exhibit 43) sent along with the corporation 's letter of September 17	 1945. Rs. 98	101 were shown to be the balance due to the appellant company. The words used in that statement were "balance as per A.C.I. Ltd. Books". These words clearly indicate that there was a subsisting account in the name of the appellant company in the books of the corporation and that at the foot of that account the sum of Rs. 98	101 was due to it. exhibit 44	 another statement of account sent to the appellant company	 stated Rs. 1	00	304 7 7 as being the "Balance as per ledger" as on December 1	 1945. As explained earlier	 the increase in the balance from Rs. 98	101 to Rs. 100	304 was due to certain items aggregating Rs. 2	203 4 6 having been passed by Subramanayam	 and entries (1) 1. L. R. 46 All. 6 38 having thereupon been posted in the ledger. Thereafter	 further items were passed by him totalling Rs. 465 10 0 which when added raised the balance to Rs. 1	60	760 1 7	 as at the end of December 1945. This was the balance "as per our ledger" stated in the statement sent along with the letter (exhibit 1). It is impossible to think that in the course of finalising the accounts Subramanayam accorded his assent to various items claimed by the appellant company without having been authorised so to do. Nor is it possible to say that on his passing those items necessary entries were made in the books of accounts of the corporation without his having so authorised. Further	 he could not have sent to the appellant company statements of accounts showing the balance due to it "as per the ledger" unless he was authorised to finalise the accounts and arrive at the amount due and payable to the appellant company. In his evidence Subramanayam testified that Lakshmipat Singhania	 the director in charge of	 the corporation	 knew that he was dealing with Arora	 the representative of the appellant company	 in the matter of accounts between the parties. He also said that he was to find out the difference between the two and that as a result many points were resolved an he confirmed by letters to the appellant company those points which were so resolved. He then stated that the directors of the corporation were aware of the settlement of the said points by him but they neither ratified nor repudiated them. This was because	 as conceded by him	 be never placed those settled points before the directors for their ratification. He did not say that he had no authority to settle the differences or that he settled them subject to the approval of the directors. It is clear that he could not have settled the various points of difference between the parties and suitable entries in the books consequent upon such settlement could not have been posted unless he was authorised by the directors to finalise the accounts and make final adjustment with the appellant company. He tried	 of course	 to make out that he had no authority except as a secretary to carry on cor respondence for clarifying the position of the corporation. He even denied that entries were made in the books of the corporation after he had settled the said items. The denial is futile because the statements of account sent by him to the appellancompany from time to time clearly show that such entries were made. The effect of all this evidence is that besides his functions as the secretary cum chief accountant	 he was authorised to finalise the accounts between the parties	 to settle differences between them and to arrive at the final figure payable by the corporation. It was in pursuance of such authority that he dealt with Arora	 passed some of the items for which the 639 appellant company claimed credit	 had those entries posted in the books of the corporation	 sent statements of accounts from time to time and finally addressed the letter	 (exhibit 1)	 stating therein that according to the books of the corporation the sum of Rs. 1	07	447 was the balance payable to the appellant company. He could not possibly have asked the appellant 	company to confirm that balance unless he had the authority on behalf of the corporation to acknowledge on its behalf that that was the balance payable by it. Therefore	 the conclusion is inescapable that he had the implied authority to make the acknowledgement and wrote the letter (exhibit 1) with the intention of doing so. Accordingly	 the suits were not liable to be dismissed on the ground of their being barred by limitation	 and the High Court was in error in allowing the appeals by the corporation and dismissing the suits. The result is that the appeals are allowed	 and the judgment and order passed by the High Court are set aside. The case will have to be remanded to the High Court for deciding the rest of the questions arising in the suits and ascertaining the amounts due to the appellants (the original plaintiffs) as the High Court has not gone into those questions as it dismissed the suits on the point of limitation. In view of the very long period having elapsed due to prolonged adjournments of the appeals while they were pending before the High Court	 we earnestly hope that the High Court will dispose of the cases as expeditiously as possible. The corporation will pay to the appellants costs of these appeals	 such costs to be in one set of costs. G.C. Appeals allowed.

Prior to January 18	 1944 six companies including M/s. Lakshmiratan. Cotton Mills Co. Ltd. (the appellant company) and the Aluminium Corporation of India Ltd. (respondent corporation) were jointly managed by two groups known as the Singhania and Gupta groups. As a result of disputes between the two groups there was a reference to arbitration. After January 18	 1944	 the date of the award	 the aforesaid six concerns were brought under the management and control of one or the other of the two groups The Corporation came under the control and management of the Singhania group. In cl. 9 of the award it was said that the award did not cover the advances which either party or their separate firms may have made to all or any of them or their moneys which may be in deposit with them and that they would be payable and paid in their usual course. After the award the appellant Company sent a statement of account in respect of advances made to the respondent corporation	 and expenditure incurred on its behalf. The statement was objected to. on the ground that the appellant company had not properly maintained its accounts during the period of joint management. Efforts at reconciliation of accounts having faded the appellants filed two suits claiming Rs. 3	56	207.9.6 and Rs. 72	595.4.6 from the Corporation	 being suits Nos. 63 and 65 of 1949. In suit No. 63 of 1949 it was claimed that the suit was within time as after adjustment of several items in 1946 and 1947 a sum of Rs. 2	96	110. 11.6 was found due to the appellant company and that in any event the suit was saved from being barred by limitation by a letter (exhibit 1) dated April 16	 1946 addressed by s the Secretarycum Chief Accountant of the Corporation	 thereby acknowledging the liability of the Corporation to pay the amount which would be found due and payable under the said accounts. Similar averments were made in	 Suit No. 65 of 1949. The written statements filed on behalf of the Corporation inter alia pleaded that the said claim was barred by limitation	 that the said letter didnot amount to an acknowledgement within the meaning of section 19 of theLimitation Act	 1908 which was then applicable to the suits	 and lastly	that even if the said letter did amount to an acknowledgement	 it wasnot binding on the Corporation. The trial court decreed the suits but theHigh Court dismissed them as being time barred. In appeals to this Courtthe questions that fell for consideration were (i) whether the letter in question amounted to an acknowledgment;(ii) whether it was an acknowledgement by the corporation	 and if not (iii) whethe 'r the Secretary cum Chief Accountant had authority express or implied. to acknowledge liability on behalf of the Corporation so as	 to bind that corporation. Allowing the appeals	 HELD: (1) (a) From the provisions of section 19(1) of the Limitation Act	 1908 it is clear that the statement on which the plea of acknowledgement is founded must relate to a subsisting liability as the section requires 624 that it must be made before the expiration of the period prescribed by the Act. It need not	 however	 amount to a promise to pay	 for an acknowledgement does not create a new right of action but merely extends the period of limitation. The statement need not indicate the exact nature or the specific character of the liability. The words used in the statement in question	 however	 must relate to a present subsisting liability and indicate the existence of jural relationship between the partes such as	 for instance	 that of a debtor and a creditor and the intention to admit such a jural relationship Such an intention need not be in express terms and can be inferred by implication or the nature of the admission and the surrounding circumstances. Generally speaking a liberal construction of the statement in question should be given. That of course does not mean that where a statement is made without intending to admit the existence of a particular jural relationship	 such an intention should be fastened on the person making the statement by an involved or a far fetched reasoning. [629 C E] Khan Bchadur Shapoor Freedoom Mazda vs Durga Prosad Chamaria	 	 Tilak Ram vs Nathu	 A.I.R. 	 938	 939	 Green vs Humphreva	 [1884] 26 Ch. D. 474	 481	 Tajpal Saraogi vs Lallanjee Jain	 C.A. No. 766/62 dt. 8 2 1965 and Abdul Rahim Oosman & Co. vs Ojamshee Prushottamdas & Co.	 Cal. 6	39	 referred to. (b) From the correspondence between the parties and the surrounding circumstances it must follow that there was a subsisting account in the name of the appellannt company in the books of the Corporation in which interest on the balance shown therein from time to time was being credited and in which amounts in respect of items passed during the course of reconciliation were also duly credited. The statement in the letter exhibit 1 that "after all the above adjustments the position will be as per statement attached"	 that is to say	 that there 'was a balance of Rs. 107447/13/11 due and payable to the appellant company must clearly amount to acknowledgement within the meaning of section 19(1). If the letter be looked at in the background of the controversy between the parties which controversy was limited to the question as to the correct ness of the amount claimed by the appellant company as also the correspondence which ensued in regard to it	 it would be impossible to say that the letter and the statement of account enclosed therewith were merely explanatory and did not amount to an admission of the jural reship of debtor and creditor and of the liability to pay the amount found due at the foot of the account on finalisation. [635 D F] The mere fact that letter called for confirmation of the amount of the balance mentioned therein and the fact that the appellant company failed to confirm it	 could not lead to a conclusion that the admission of liability was conditional and therefore could not operate as an acknow ledgement. The confirmation sought in the letter was not a condition to the admission as to the existence of a subsisting account and the liability to pay when accounts were finalised but to the specific amount which according to the corporation would be the amount payable by it according to its calculation. 'There was no condition subject to which the admission was to be made which remained unperformed. [635 G; 636 F G; 637 B] Maniram vs Rupchand	 L.R. 33 I.A. 165	 Raja Kayali Arunachella Row Bahadur vs Sri Rajah Rangiah Appa Row Bahadur	 Mad. 519 and Ballapragada Ramamurthy vs Thammana Gopayya	 Mad. 701	 distinguished. 625 LAXMIRATAN COTTON MILLS V. ALUMINIUM CORP. (Shelat	 J.) In re River Steamer Co. vs Mitchell	 	 828	 referred to. 	 (ii) The plea that the letter exhibit I should be regarded as an acknowledgement by the corporation itself was not included among the issues formulated before the courts below. It could not be allowed to be raised for the first time in this Court. [628 B] (iii) If the correspondence between the parties together with the statements of accounts enclosed therewith was closely examined it became clear that S was authorised to scrutinise the claim made by the appellant company	 the various items for which the appellant _company claimed credit and to reject the same and	 what is important	 to allow others. That he had such an authority was clear from the fact that in respect of such of the items which he allowed	 credit was given to the appellant and necessary entries to the credit of the appellant company were posted in the account maintained by the Corporation in its books of account. It was impossible to say that in the course of finalising the accounts	 S accorded his assent to various items claimed by the appellant company without having been authorised so to do. Nor was it possible to say that on his passing those items necessary entries were made in the books of accounts of the corporation without his having so authorised. Further	 he could not have sent to the appellant company statements of account showing the balance due to it "as per the ledger" unless he was authorised to finalise the accounts and arrive at the amount due and payable to	 the company. [637 E F; 638 B C] Uma Shankar vs Govind Narain	 I.L.R. 46 All. 982	 referred to.