Proceedings on appearance of judgment-debtor in obedience to notice or after arrest
Full Text
(1) When a judgment-debtor appears before the Court in obedience to a notice issued under rule 37, or is brought before the Court after being arrested in execution of a decree for the payment of money, the Court shall proceed to hear the decree-holder and take all such evidence as may be produced by him in support of his application for execution and shall then give the judgment-debtor an opportunity of showing cause why he should not be committed to the civil prison.
(2) Pending the conclusion of the inquiry under sub-rule (1) the Court may, in its discretion, order the judgment-debtor to be detained in the custody of an officer of the Court or release him on his furnishing security to the satisfaction of the Court for his appearance when required.
(3) Upon the conclusion of the inquiry under sub-rule (1) the Court may, subject to the provisions of section 51 and to the other provisions of this Code, make an order for the detention of the judgment-debtor in the civil prison and shall in that event cause him to be arrested if he is not already under arrest: Provided that in order to give the judgment-debtor an opportunity of satisfying the decree, the Court may, before making the order of detention, leave the judgment-debtor in the custody of an officer of the Court for a specified period not exceeding fifteen days or release him on his furnishing security to the satisfaction of the Court for his appearance at the expiration of the specified period if the decree be not sooner satisfied.
(4) A judgment-debtor released under this rule may be re-arrested.
(5) When the Court does not make an order of detention under sub-rule (3) it shall disallow the application and, if the judgment-debtor is under arrest, direct his release.
Plain English Summary
Mandates a formal inquiry upon appearance or arrest of the judgment-debtor, requiring the decree-holder to establish grounds under Section 51 before civil detention can be ordered, with provision for a 15-day grace period.
Key Legal Elements
- Inquiry on Means & Conduct: Court takes decree-holder's evidence and debtor's defense.
- Section 51 Compliance Mandatory: Proving means to pay and mala fide refusal.
- 15-Day Grace Period Proviso: Discretion to grant up to 15 days to arrange payment under custody/security.
- Re-arrest Permitted (Sub-rule 4): If released on interim bond and defaults, re-arrest follows.
Practical Note
Conducting the Rule 40 Inquiry: 1. Burden of Proof: The burden is heavily on the decree-holder to prove by cogent evidence (bank statements, property registries, income tax returns) that the debtor has the means to pay but is dishonestly refusing (Jolly George Varghese, 1980 2 SCC 360). 2. 15-Day Window: Advocates for judgment-debtors frequently invoke the proviso to Rule 40(3) to secure 15 days' breathing time to negotiate an installment settlement.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) जब कोई निर्णय-ऋणी नियम 37 के अधीन जारी सूचना के पालन में उपसंजात होता है या गिरफ्तारी के पश्चात लाया जाता है, तब न्यायालय डिक्रीदार को सुनेगा और उसके द्वारा प्रस्तुत साक्ष्य लेगा तथा निर्णय-ऋणी को कारण दर्शित करने का अवसर देगा कि उसे सिविल कारागार में क्यों न भेज दिया जाए।
(2) जांच के लंबित रहने के दौरान न्यायालय निर्णय-ऋणी को न्यायालय के अधिकारी की अभिरक्षा में रख सकेगा अथवा प्रतिभूति पर छोड़ सकेगा।
(3) जांच की समाप्ति पर न्यायालय, धारा 51 के उपबंधों के अधीन रहते हुए, सिविल कारागार में निरोध का आदेश कर सकेगा: परंतु डिक्री तुष्ट करने का अवसर देने हेतु न्यायालय उसे 15 दिन से अनधिक की अवधि के लिए कोर्ट कस्टडी या जमानत पर छोड़ सकेगा।
(4) इस नियम के अधीन छोड़ा गया निर्णय-ऋणी पुनः गिरफ्तार किया जा सकेगा।
(5) यदि न्यायालय निरोध का आदेश नहीं करता है तो वह आवेदन को नामंजूर करेगा और देनदार को तुरंत रिहा करेगा।