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PART II EXECUTION · COURTS BY WHICH DECREES MAY BE EXECUTED

Section 44A: Execution of decrees passed by Courts in reciprocating territory

The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

1[(1) Where a certified copy of a decree of any of the superior Courts of 2*** any reciprocating territory has been filed in a District Court, the decree may be executed in 3[India] as if it had been passed by the District Court.

(2) Together with the certified copy of the decree shall be filed a certificate from such superior Court stating the extent, if any, to which the decree has been satisfied or adjusted and such certificate shall, for the purposes of proceedings under this section, be conclusive proof of the extent of such satisfaction or adjustment.

(3) The provisions of section 47 shall as from the filing of the certified copy of the decree apply to the proceedings of a District Court executing a decree under this section, and the District Court shall refuse execution of any such decree, if it is shown to the satisfaction of the Court that the decree falls within any of the exceptions specified in clauses (a) to (f) of section 13.

4[Explanation 1.—“Reciprocating territory” means any country or territory outside India which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare to be a reciprocating territory for the purposes of this section; and “superior Courts”, with reference to any such territory, means such Courts as may be specified in the said notification.

Explanation 2.—“Decree” with reference to a superior Court means any decree or judgment of such Court under which a sum of money is payable, not being a sum payable in respect of taxes or other charges of a like nature or in respect of a fine or other penalty, but shall in no case include an arbitration award, even if such an award is enforceable as a decree or judgment.]]

Footnotes in the official text

  1. 1.Ins. by Act 8 of 1937, s. 2.
  2. 2.The words “the United Kingdom or” omitted by Act 71 of 1952, s. 2.
  3. 3.Subs. by Act 2 of 1951, s. 3, for “the States” (w.e.f. 1-4-1951).
  4. 4.Subs. by Act 71 of 1952, s. 2, for Explanations 1 to 3.

Questions on this section

4 questions in 8 of our papers cite Section 44A. Try these from the free papers:

  1. 1. In International Woollen Mills v. Standard Wool (U.K.) Ltd. (2001), an English court had passed an ex parte money decree after the defendant, who had been served, did not defend; no evidence was led and the plaintiff's claim was not examined. The decree-holder sought execution in India under Section 44A CPC. The Supreme Court held that the decree:

Practise questions on Civil Procedure Code