Facts
Respondent No. 1 (Decree Holder) obtained an arbitral award against the appellant on July 16, 2024, for approximately Rs. 584.21 crores plus 12% interest
Source reference: para 7The appellant challenged the award under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act but did not press for a stay of the award
Source reference: paras 7, 25.2, 34Consequently, Respondent No. 1 filed an execution petition (CEP No. 14 of 2025).
Source reference: paras 1, 7On March 3, 2025, the Commercial Court ordered the attachment of the appellant's South Central Railway (SCR) Treasury Account held with the Garnishee (State Bank of India)
Source reference: paras 1, 7The appellant filed an application (CEA No. 92 of 2025) to set aside this attachment, claiming the account contained funds (Provident Fund and LIC premiums) exempt under Section 60(1) of the CPC and that the court failed to follow the mandatory garnishee procedure under Order XXI Rule 46A
Source reference: paras 4-5, 9The Commercial Court dismissed the appellant's application on December 31, 2025, leading to this appeal
Source reference: para 1Issues
1. Whether the SCR Treasury Account is exempt from attachment under the proviso to Section 60(1) of the CPC and the Provident Funds Act, 1925
Source reference: para 52. Whether the Commercial Court violated the mandatory procedure under Order XXI Rules 46 and 46A of the CPC by attaching the account before issuing notice to the Garnishee
Source reference: para 53. Whether the appellant’s application challenging the attachment order was maintainable under Section 47 of the CPC
Source reference: para 33Law Applied
The court primarily applied Section 60(1) of the CPC, which lists property liable to attachment, and its proviso, which exempts specific funds like Provident Deposits and Life Insurance
Source reference: paras 10, 13It relied on Govindan A v. Govindarajan KK to establish that the burden of proving an exemption lies on the party claiming it
Source reference: para 11The court interpreted Order XXI Rule 46 (procedure for attaching debt/property not in possession of the judgment-debtor) and Rule 46A (discretionary notice to garnishee), clarifying that Rule 46A applies after attachment under Rule 46
Source reference: paras 19, 21Additionally, it applied Section 47 of the CPC regarding questions to be determined by the executing court and cited Dhurandar Prasad Singh v. Jai Prakash University to emphasize the narrow "microscopic" scope of Section 47, which generally only permits challenges to decrees that are void ab initio or a nullity
Source reference: paras 30, 32Reasoning
The court found the appellant’s claim for exemption under Section 60(1) CPC unsubstantiated because the appellant failed to provide specific particulars or evidence showing what portion of the Treasury Account actually comprised exempt funds; a blanket claim over the entire account is insufficient to meet the burden of proof
Source reference: paras 11-13, 15On the procedural issue, the court analyzed the sequence of Order XXI and determined that attachment under Rule 46 is achieved by a written order of prohibition
Source reference: paras 19, 23Rule 46A notice is discretionary ("The Court may...") and follows attachment
Source reference: para 21Since the Garnishee (SBI) filed a memo confirming compliance and did not dispute its liability, the court held that further proceedings under Rule 46A were "unnecessary and irrelevant"
Source reference: paras 28-29The court ruled that the application was not maintainable under Section 47 because the appellant was not challenging the validity of the decree (the arbitral award) but rather a subsequent execution order
Source reference: paras 31-33Holding
The High Court dismissed the appeal and upheld the Commercial Court's order dated December 31, 2025
the appellant failed to establish statutory exemptions for the account due to lack of specific proof
Source reference: para 15there was no procedural irregularity under Order XXI Rule 46A as the Garnishee had already complied with the attachment order
Source reference: para 28the arbitral award remains fully enforceable as no stay had been granted
Source reference: para 34No order as to costs was made
Source reference: para 37Original Court PDF
Union of IndiavsKrishnapatnam Railway Company Limited
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