In India, the enforcement and execution of arbitral awards, both domestic and foreign, are governed by the Act read with the CPC. While the former lays down the substantive law governing enforceability and execution of an award, the latter deals with the procedures required to be followed when seeking execution of an award.
According to Section 35 of the Act, an arbitral award shall be final and binding on the parties and persons claiming under them. According to Section 35 of the Act, an arbitral award shall be final and binding on the parties and persons claiming under them. Thus, an arbitral award becomes immediately enforceable unless challenged under Section 34 of the Act. When the period for filing objections has expired or objections have been rejected, the award can be enforced under the CPC in the same manner as if it were a decree passed by a court of law. An ex parte award passed by an Arbitral Tribunal under Section 28 of the Act is also enforceable under Section 36.
Even a settlement reached by the parties under Section 30 of the Act can be enforced under Section 36 of the Act as if it were a decree of the court.
Institution of Execution Petition
For the execution of an arbitral award, the procedure as laid down in Order XXI of the CPC has to be followed. Order XXI of the CPC lays down the detailed procedure for enforcement of decrees. It is pertinent to note that Order XXI of the CPC is the longest order in the schedule of the CPC consisting of 106 Rules. Where enforcement of an arbitral award is sought under Order XXI CPC by a decree-holder, the legal position as to objections to it is clear. At the stage of execution of the arbitral award, there can be no challenge as to its validity.
The execution proceedings of an award can be filed anywhere in the country, and there is no requirement for obtaining a transfer of the decree from the court which exercised jurisdiction over the arbitral proceedings. The court executing the decree cannot go beyond the decree and between the parties or their representatives. It ought to take the decree according to its tenor and cannot entertain any objection that the decree was incorrect in law or in facts. All proceedings in execution are commenced by an application for execution.
The execution of a decree against the property of the judgment debtor can be effected in two ways
I. Attachment of property; and
II. Sale of property of the judgment debtor.
The courts have been granted discretion to impose conditions prior to granting a stay, including a direction for deposit. The amended section also states that where the time for making an application under Section 34 has expired, then, subject to the provisions of the CPC, the award can be enforced. Also, the mere fact that an application for setting aside an arbitral award has been filed in the court does not itself render the award unenforceable unless the court grants a stay in accordance with the provisions of subsection 3, in a separate application. It is the discretion of the court to impose such conditions as it deems fit while deciding the stay application.
Attachment of Property
Attachable property’ belonging to a judgment debtor may be divided into two classes: (i) moveable property and (ii) immovable property.
If the property is immoveable, the attachment is to be made by an order prohibiting the judgment debtor from transferring or charging the property in any way and prohibiting all other persons from taking any benefit from such a transfer or charge. The order must be proclaimed at some place on or adjacent to the property and a copy of the order is to be affixed on a conspicuous part of the property and upon a conspicuous part of the courthouse.
Where an attachment has been made, any private transfer of property attached, whether it be movable or immovable, is void as against all claims enforceable under the attachment. If during the pendency of the attachment, the judgment debtor satisfies the decree through the court, the attachment will be deemed to be withdrawn. Otherwise, the court will order the property to be sold.
Order XXI lays down a detailed procedure for the sale of attached property whether movable or immovable. If the property attached is a moveable property, which is subject to speedy and natural decay, it may be sold at once under Rule 43. Every sale in execution of a decree should be conducted by an officer of the court except where the property to be sold is a negotiable instrument or a share in a corporation which the court may order to be sold through a broker.