Execution of decree
Full Text
(1) Where, in a suit by or against the Government or by or against a public officer in respect of any act purporting to be done by him in his official capacity, a decree is passed against the Union of India or a State or, as the case may be, the public officer, such decree shall not be executed except in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2).
(2) Execution shall not be issued on any such decree unless it remains unsatisfied for the period of three months computed from the date of such decree.
(3) The provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2) shall apply in relation to an order or award as they apply in relation to a decree, if the order or award—
(a) is passed or made against the Union of India or a State or a public officer in respect of any such act as aforesaid, whether by a Court or by any other authority; and
(b) is capable of being executed under the provisions of this Code or of any other law for the time being in force as if it were a decree.
Plain English Summary
Section 82 prescribes a mandatory three-month statutory moratorium on the execution of any civil decree, court order, or award passed against the Union of India, a State Government, or a public officer acting in an official capacity, prohibiting warrants of attachment or execution until three months have elapsed from the date of the decree to allow administrative disbursement.
Key Legal Elements
- Mandatory 3-Month Moratorium: Strict statutory bar against initiating execution against the Government or public officers until three months elapse from decree date.
- Applicable to Decrees, Orders & Awards (Sec 82(3)): Extends moratorium to land acquisition awards, arbitration awards, and tribunal orders executable as civil decrees.
- Pre-Execution Grace Period: Affords State exchequers and administrative departments reasonable opportunity to sanction budgets and disburse decretal sums.
- Condition Precedent for Coercive Process: Executing court has no jurisdiction to issue warrants of attachment or bank freezes against Government funds prior to the 3-month mark.
Practical Note
Three-Month Moratorium, Execution of Land Acquisition Awards & Government Bank Attachments: (1) Mandatory Cooling-Off Window: Any execution petition filed before the expiry of three months from the decree/award date is premature and impermissible; courts must insist on the 3-month lapse before entertaining Order XXI petitions against the State. (2) Extension to Land Acquisition & Arbitration Awards: Under sub-section (3), reference court awards under the Land Acquisition Act / RFCTLARR Act 2013 and arbitral awards are covered by this protection, giving the Collector or acquiring authority 3 months to deposit compensation. (3) Enforcement Post-3 Months: Once the three-month period expires without satisfaction, the decree-holder is fully entitled to attach government treasury accounts, vehicles, or properties under Order XXI; the Government enjoys no indefinite immunity from execution (State of Rajasthan v. Rao Raja Kalyan Singh, SC).
हिंदी पाठ
(1) जहां सरकार द्वारा या उसके विरुद्ध अथवा किसी लोक अधिकारी द्वारा या उसके विरुद्ध उसकी पदीय हैसियत में किए जाने के लिए तात्पर्यित किसी कार्य के संबंध में किसी वाद में, भारत संघ या किसी राज्य के विरुद्ध अथवा, यथास्थिति, लोक अधिकारी के विरुद्ध कोई डिक्री पारित की जाती है, वहां ऐसी डिक्री का निष्पादन उपधारा (2) के उपबंधों के अनुसार ही किया जाएगा अन्यथा नहीं।
(2) ऐसी किसी डिक्री पर निष्पादन तब तक जारी नहीं किया जाएगा जब तक कि वह ऐसी डिक्री की तारीख से संगणित तीन मास की अवधि तक असंतुष्ट (अपसंदत्त) न रहे।
(3) उपधारा (1) और (2) के उपबंध किसी आदेश या पंचाट (Award) के संबंध में उसी प्रकार लागू होंगे जैसे वे किसी डिक्री के संबंध में लागू होते हैं, यदि वह आदेश या पंचाट—
(क) भारत संघ या किसी राज्य अथवा किसी लोक अधिकारी के विरुद्ध पूर्वोक्त जैसे किसी कार्य के संबंध में पारित किया गया है या दिया गया है, चाहे किसी न्यायालय द्वारा अथवा किसी अन्य प्राधिकारी द्वारा; तथा
(ख) इस संहिता के अथवा तत्समय प्रवृत्त किसी अन्य विधि के उपबंधों के अधीन इस प्रकार निष्पादित किए जाने योग्य है मानो वह कोई डिक्री हो।