Meaning of procedural time limits in civil procedure

Straipsnyje nagrinėjama procesinių terminų civiliniame procese reikšmė atskleidžiama dviem aspektais: vertinant juos įgyvendinant teisę į teisminę gynybą, procesinių terminų santykį su teisės į teisingą procesą ir koncentracijos principais bei jų įtaką užtikrinant efektyvų civilinės bylos nagrinėjimą. Procesinių terminų reikšmei parodyti realizuojant minėtus principus, tiriamos šių terminų ir principų sąsajos. Atskleidžiant procesinių terminų svarbą efektyviam bylos nagrinėjimui, analizuojama terminų įtaka bylos dinamikai ir teismo darbo organizavimui užtikrinti.The aim of this article is to research the meaning of procedural time limits in civil procedure. Research is based on scientific accomplishments in civil procedure made by both Lithuanian and foreign scholars. Analysis of the approaches to the meaning of procedural time limits allows us to conclude that the meaning of time limits can be discussed in two aspects: the influence of time limits on some principles of the Civil Procedure Law, and the influence of time limits on civil court hearings. Firstly, the article pursues to disclose the influence of procedural time limits on the principles of Civil Procedure Law, such as the right of access to the court, the right to a fair hearing, and the concentration principle in the civil process. Procedural time limits allow realization of the right of access to the court, as operative execution of procedural actions is related to case hearings scheduled in the shortest and the most suitable period. It is important to mention that the hearing of civil cases within a reasonable time is part of the right of access to the court. Therefore, timely protection of violated rights realizes a person’s right to judicial defence. Procedural time limits are important to ensure not only effective, but also fair, civil procedure for several reasons: to ascertain circumstances of facts, to execute procedural actions in a timely manner, and to avoid abuse of procedural rights. The observance of procedural time limits secures the concentration principle in the civil process, because the court, litigants and other case participants must exercise procedural actions in a timely and suitable manner. Secondly, the article analyses the influence of procedural time limits on the proper hearing of civil cases. In this aspect, one important issue is that observance of time limits can ensure the dynamics of civil cases and the timely execution of procedural actions. Procedural time limits define restrictions for the execution of procedural action in every stage of a case. This is meant to ensure fluent development of cases. Additionally, procedural time limits influence the work of the court. Administration of justice and execution of procedural actions are related to the administrative work of the court. For the purpose of executing justice, organizational actions of the court must be done on time. The observance of procedural time limits can help make the work of the courts more organized and efficient. Thus, procedural time limits are important in order to ensure fair and concentrated hearing of cases. They are also important in realizing the execution of procedural actions. Additionally, the pursuance of procedural time limits guarantees the proper work of courts