合同无效适用时效问题探析

合同无效不同于无效合同。合同无效制度包含了绝对无效和相对无效,全部无效和部分无效,并进而产生了不同的法律效果和相应的请求权,因此,在适用诉讼时效时应区别对待。绝对无效合同的确认不应适用诉讼时效;相对无效的撤销或变更期间为除斥期间;合同在宣告无效以后当事人之间产生相互返还或损害赔偿的请求权应当适用时效的规定,而非民事性后果不应适用诉讼时效。我国法律应当就合同无效制度是否适用诉讼时效做一般规定,而且也应就特殊情况做相应规定。

Action Limitation of Contract Invalidity

Contract invalidity is not invalid contract. Contract invalidity includes both absolute and comparative invalidity, both whole and partial invalidity, and leads to different legislative consequences and corresponding actions, therefore, should be treated differently. Action limitation is not suitable for the confirmation of absolute invalid contract. The period for canceling and modifying comparative invalidity is called right revoking period, After the declaration of invalidity, the mutual returning and damage compensation among the involved parties should be conducted within the action limitation, while such limitation is not suitable for non-civil consequences. Normal legislative regulations and corresponding ones for special cases should be made to decide if the action limitation should be used to deal with contract invalidity.