Precepts
Full Text
(1) Upon the application of the decree-holder the Court which passed the decree may, whenever it thinks fit, issue a precept to any other Court which would be competent to execute such decree to attach any property belonging to the judgment-debtor and specified in the precept.
(2) The Court to which a precept is sent shall proceed to attach the property in the manner prescribed in regard to the attachment of property in execution of a decree:
Provided that no attachment under a precept shall continue for more than two months unless the period of attachment is extended by an order of the Court which passed the decree or unless before the determination of such attachment the decree has been transferred to the Court by which the attachment has been made and the decree-holder has applied for an order for the sale of such property.
Plain English Summary
Section 46 provides an urgent pre-execution conservatory remedy termed a 'precept', whereby the court which passed a decree directs another competent court to immediately attach the judgment-debtor's assets located in its jurisdiction to prevent alienation. The interim attachment lapses automatically after two months unless extended by the trial court or perfected by a formal Section 39 transfer and sale application.
Key Legal Elements
- Conservatory Pre-Execution Remedy: Judicial order from trial court to another competent court to freeze debtor assets.
- Attachment Strictu Sensu: Authorizes attachment only; excludes power to conduct auction or sale.
- Two-Month Sunset Clause: Attachment terminates automatically in two months unless judicially extended.
- Perfection Mechanism: Sustained beyond two months if decree is transferred under Section 39 and sale application is lodged.
Practical Note
Emergency Asset Freeze Mechanism in Execution Practice: (1) Urgent Interim Protection: A Section 39 transfer often takes weeks to transmit. If the debtor is attempting to alienate assets located in another district, the decree-holder files under Section 46 for a Precept to freeze the property immediately. (2) Attachment Only, No Sale: The court receiving a precept can only attach the property under Order XXI; it has no jurisdiction to sell or auction the property. (3) 2-Month Sunset Clause (Proviso): Precept attachment automatically lapses after 2 months. To maintain the freeze, the decree-holder must either obtain a judicial extension from the issuing court or complete the Section 39 transfer and file a sale application before the 2 months expire.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) डिक्रीदार के आवेदन पर डिक्री पारित करने वाला न्यायालय, जब कभी वह ठीक समझे, किसी अन्य ऐसे न्यायालय को जो ऐसी डिक्री का निष्पादन करने के लिए सक्षम हो, निर्णीत-ऋणी (देनदार) की किसी ऐसी संपत्ति को जो आज्ञापत्र (प्रीसेप्ट) में विनिर्दिष्ट हो, कुर्क करने के लिए एक आज्ञापत्र निकाल सकेगा।
(2) वह न्यायालय जिसको आज्ञापत्र भेजा गया है, डिक्री के निष्पादन में संपत्ति की कुर्की के बारे में विहित रीति से उस संपत्ति को कुर्क करने के लिए अग्रसर होगा:
परन्तु आज्ञापत्र के अधीन की गई कोई भी कुर्की दो मास से अधिक समय तक चालू नहीं रहेगी, जब तक कि कुर्की की कालावधि डिक्री पारित करने वाले न्यायालय के आदेश द्वारा बढ़ा न दी जाए अथवा जब तक कि ऐसी कुर्की के पर्यवसान (समाप्ति) से पूर्व वह डिक्री उस न्यायालय को अन्तरित न कर दी गई हो जिसके द्वारा वह कुर्की की गई है और डिक्रीदार ने ऐसी संपत्ति के विक्रय के आदेश के लिए आवेदन न कर दिया हो।