Section 39: Transfer of decree

Code of Civil Procedure • Official Statutory Text & Practice Guide

Statutory Regulation
Legal Standard
Competent Court / Tribunal
Act 1908
Statutory Defined Terms in this Section: (Click any term for official legal definition)

Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 39

Section 39 regulates the transfer of decrees for execution, empowering the court which passed a decree to send it for execution to another subordinate or coordinate court on the application of the decree-holder or suo motu.

  • Statutory Grounds for Transfer: Court may transfer decree on application if: (a) judgment-debtor actually resides or carries on business within the local limits of another court, (b) judgment-debtor has no property within jurisdiction but has property within the other court, (c) decree directs sale or delivery of immoveable property outside jurisdiction, or (d) other sufficient reasons.
  • Suo Motu Transfer: Court which passed the decree may also send it for execution suo motu to any subordinate court of competent jurisdiction.
  • Pecuniary Competence Limit [Sec 39(3)]: Court cannot transfer a decree for execution to a court whose pecuniary jurisdiction is less than the value of the decree.
  • Bar on Direct Execution Against Outside Property [Sec 39(4)]: The court which passed the decree is barred from executing against immoveable property situated outside its territorial jurisdiction.
Key Landmark Precedents:
  • Mahadeo Prasad Singh v. Ram Lochan, (1980) 4 SCC 354: The Supreme Court held that under Section 39, a decree cannot be executed directly against immoveable property outside jurisdiction; transmission under Section 39 is mandatory to clothe the executing court with jurisdiction.
  • Salem Advocate Bar Association (II) v. Union of India, (2005) 6 SCC 344: Noted that Section 39(4) inserted by the 2002 amendment settled the conflict, explicitly prohibiting courts from executing against property situated outside their territorial limits.
Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:

If the judgment-debtor's assets lie in another district or state, apply for a Transfer Certificate under Section 39; never attempt to obtain an attachment order from the trial court against outside immoveable property, which violates Section 39(4).