Introduction

In a recent judgment delivered by the Allahabad High Court, significant legal questions surrounding arbitration proceedings, specifically under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (New Act), have been addressed. The case, titled India Oil Corporation Ltd. and Another Vs. The Commercial Court and Another, 2023:AHC:176040 delves into various facets of arbitration, including the transition from the earlier Arbitration Act of 1940 (Old Act) to the New Act, the nature of arbitral awards vis-à-vis decrees under the Civil Procedure Code (CPC), and the maintainability of objections under Section 47 of the CPC in execution proceedings under Section 36 of the New Act.

The case stemmed from a dispute between India Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOC) and the Commercial Court (respondent), with the latter seeking enforcement of an arbitral award. The issues before the court were complex and required clarification on several legal aspects.

Key Legal Questions Addressed 

A. Continuation of Arbitration Proceedings Under the New Act 

The first crucial question revolved around whether arbitration proceedings initiated under the Old Act could continue under the New Act without explicit agreement between the parties. Section 85(2)(a) of the New Act stipulates that arbitral proceedings commenced before the New Act's enactment would continue under the Old Act unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties.

The court examined the arbitration agreement in the Contract and found that it referred to the Old Act, the statutory re-enactments, modifications, and rules thereunder. This unambiguous agreement between the parties demonstrated their intent for the New Act's applicability to their arbitration proceedings. The court cited the "Thyssen Stahlunion Gmbh Vs. Steel Authority of India Ltd." case to conclude that the parties need not enter into a new agreement for the New Act's application; their existing agreement suffices. 

B. Nature of Arbitral Awards as Decrees 

The second pivotal issue concerned whether arbitral awards can be considered decrees as defined under Section 2(2) of the CPC. The court referenced the "Paramjeet Singh Patheja Vs. ICDS Ltd." case, emphasizing that while arbitral awards can be enforced under Section 36 of the New Act along with the provisions of CPC, they do not qualify as decrees under Section 2(2) of the CPC. 

C. Maintainability of Objections Under Section 47 of CPC 

The final question examined whether objections under Section 47 of the CPC were maintainable in execution proceedings under Section 36 of the New Act. Citing the "Larsen & Tubro Limited Vs. Maharaji Educational Trust" case, the court ruled that objections under Section 47 of the CPC are not permissible at the execution stage, as all relevant issues should have been raised during the Section 34 proceedings of the New Act.

The "M/s Chopra Fabricators and Manufacturers Pvt. Ltd. Vs. Bharat Pumps and Compressors Ltd. & Anr." case was also cited to reiterate that arbitral awards are not decrees under Section 2(2) of the CPC, thereby invalidating objections filed under Section 47 of the CPC in execution proceedings. 

Conclusion

In a comprehensive judgment, the Allahabad High Court clarified key aspects of arbitration proceedings under the New Act. It reaffirmed that arbitration proceedings initiated under the Old Act can continue under the New Act based on the parties' agreement, and that arbitral awards, while enforceable, do not qualify as decrees under Section 2(2) of the CPC. The court also emphasized that objections under Section 47 of the CPC are not maintainable in execution proceedings under Section 36 of the New Act, highlighting the importance of raising all relevant issues at the appropriate stages of arbitration proceedings. The judgment serves as a significant legal reference for parties involved in arbitration disputes in India.