Transmission Corporation Of Andhra … vs Haryana Micro And Small Enterprises … on 12 March, 2026

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    Supreme Court – Daily Orders

    Transmission Corporation Of Andhra … vs Haryana Micro And Small Enterprises … on 12 March, 2026

    Author: Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha

    Bench: Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha

                                            IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
                                             CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
    
                                     CIVIL APPEAL NO(S). 10420-10421 OF 2024
    
         TRANSMISSION CORPORATION OF
         ANDHRA PRADESH LIMITED (A.P. TRANSCO)                                        Appellant(s)
    
    
                                                                VERSUS
    
    
    
         HARYANA MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES
         FACILITATION COUNCIL & ORS.                                                  Respondent(s)
    
    
                                                          O R D E R
    

    1. These appeals are against the judgment and order dated

    08.09.2022 passed by the High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amravati

    SPONSORED

    in Writ Petition Nos. 34399 and 34412 of 2018.

    2. A conspectus of the facts of the case, relevant for disposing

    of the present appeals, are as follows.

    3. On the basis of the contract, the appellant on 25.05.1998

    sought supply of certain conductors from respondent no.2. Certain

    dispute arose out of the contract and hence the matter was referred

    to arbitration. Arbitration in question was undertaken under the

    Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 (“the

    MSME Act“) by the Haryana Micro & Small Enterprises Facilitation

    Council (hereinafter, Facilitation Council) and two awards dated

    21.06.2010 came to be passed partly allowing the claims. The

    appellant challenged the award(s) by filing two applications under
    Signature Not Verified

    Digitally signed by
    KAPIL TANDON

    Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (“the
    Date: 2026.03.17
    16:22:01 IST
    Reason:

    Arbitration Act“). By its orders dated 28.08.20214 and 29.08.2014,

    1
    the challenge was repelled by the ADJ, Chandigarh and the appeal

    under Section 37 of the Arbitration Act met the same fate. Even the

    Special Leave Petition filed against the order passed by the Punjab

    and Haryana High Court under Section 37 of the Arbitration Act came

    to be dismissed on 30.07.2018.

    4. The respondent no. 2 adopted two distinctive modes in order to

    seek execution of the award(s). Firstly, by moving an application

    under Section 17(1)(ii)(e) of the Arbitration Act before the

    Facilitation Council seeking securement of the amount payable under

    the claims and also for determining the exact award(s) amount.

    Though the said application came to be dismissed on 06.09.2017, on

    review the Council took up the application and passed orders on

    11.07.2018 directing as under:

    “Case No. 3

    The Council had ordered on 21.06.2010 that
    claim of the supplier is maintainable as per
    the rate of interest and dates mentioned qua
    bills mentioned at Sr. No. 58-82 of the
    Annexure AW-1, to the actual date of payment
    with compounding as per provision of the Act 34
    of 1993. The Council observed that now the
    Arbitration Case No. 579 of 19.10.2010 filed by
    the buyer has been dismissed by the District
    Court, Chandigarh vide order dated 17.04.2018
    in respect of the above award passed by the
    Council regarding the bills at Sr. No. 58-92
    and subsequently, the Hon’ble High Court vide
    order dated 18.05.2018 and Hon’ble Supreme
    Court vide order dated 06.06.2018 have also
    dismissed the petition filed by the buyer and
    the matter has attained finality. The Council
    further observed that the Amendment under
    Section 17 of the Arbitration and Conciliation
    (Amendment) Act, 2015 is applicable with
    retrospective effect in view of the Hon’ble
    Calcutta High Court order ‘dated 02.03.2016,
    which was not referred by the supplier in his
    submissions made in previous application
    29.05.2017. Therefore, the provision made under
    Section 17(ii)(0) read with Section 17 (ii)(e)
    2
    of Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment)
    Act, 2015 applies to the payment pending
    towards the buyer. Accordingly, the Council
    secures the interest amount of Rs.

    5,90,86,059/- till 30.06.2018 and with future
    interest till realization in accordance with
    provisions of Act 32 of 1993. Further, the
    council unanimously decided that the Respondent
    M/s. Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh
    Limited (APTRANSCO) is restrained and
    prohibited from receiving payments from
    Garnishees at Schedule A, Serial No. 1 to 4 and
    garnishees are hereby restricted to make
    payment to the Respondent M/s. Transmission
    Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Limited
    (APTRANSCO) to the extent of decree amount of
    Rs. 5,90,86,059 (for Bill No. 58-82 as per
    Annexure AW-1 of the award dated 21.06.2010)
    till 30.06.2018 and pay the same to the decree
    holder M/s. Equipment Conductors and Cables
    Limited through Execution Court forthwith in
    satisfaction of the arbitral award. The amount
    of Rs. 20,54,754/- ‘deposited by the buyer in
    the District Court, Chandigarh shall be reduced
    in discharging the award liability.

    Case No. 7

    The Council had ordered on 21.06.2010 that
    claim of the supplier is maintainable as per
    the rate of interest and dates mentioned qua
    bills mentioned at Sr. No. 26-45 of the
    Annexure AW-1, to the actual date of payment
    with compounding as per provision of the Act 34
    of 1993. The Council observed that now the
    Arbitration Case No. 580 of 19.10.2010 filed by
    the buyer has been dismissed by the District
    Court, Chandigarh vide order dated 17.04.2018
    in respect of the above award passed by the
    Council regarding the bills at Sr. No. 26-45
    and subsequently, the Hon’ble High Court vide
    order dated 18.05.2018 and Hon’ble Supreme
    Court vide order dated 06.06.2018 have also
    dismissed the petition filed by the buyer and
    the matter has attained finality. The Council
    further observed that the Amendment under
    Section 17 of the Arbitration and Conciliation
    (Amendment) Act, 2015 is applicable with
    retrospective effect in view of the Hon’ble
    Calcutta High Court order dated 02.03.2016,
    which was not referred by the supplier in his
    submissions made in previous application
    29.05.2017. Therefore, the provision made under
    Section 17(ii)(b) read with Section 17 (ii)(e)
    3
    of Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment)
    Act, 2015 applies to the payment pending
    towards the buyer. Accordingly, the Council
    secures the interest amount of Rs.

    6,08,99,870/- till 30.06.2018 and with future
    interest till realization in accordance with
    provisions of Act 32 of 1993. Further, the
    council unanimously decided that the Respondent
    M/s. Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh
    Limited (APTRANSCO) is restrained and
    prohibited from receiving payments from
    Garnishees at Schedule A, Serial No. 1 to 4 and
    garnishees are hereby restricted to make
    payment to the Respondent M/s. Transmission
    Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Limited
    (APTRANSCO) to the extent of decree amount of
    Rs. 5,90,86,059 (for Bill No. 26-45 as per
    Annexure AW-1 of the award dated 21.06.2010)
    till 30.06.2018 and pay the same to the decree
    holder M/s. Equipment Conductors and Cables
    Limited through Execution Court forthwith in
    satisfaction of the arbitral award. The amount
    of Rs. 24,50,046/- deposited by the buyer in
    the District Court, Chandigarh shall be reduced
    in discharging the award liability.”

    5. Questioning the legality and validity of the above order, the

    appellant filed two Writ Petitions before the High Court of Andhra

    Pradesh. We will return to these proceedings after reference to

    some other events that have transpired in the meanwhile.

    6. As indicated earlier, respondent no. 2 also filed Execution

    Petitions, being Execution Petition Nos 1512 and 1513 of 2018

    before the Commercial Court, Vijayawada seeking execution of the

    awards that have attained finality. The Execution Petitions came to

    be dismissed by the Commercial Court on 12.10.2020 for the

    following reasons;

    “Execution Petition Nos 1512 of 2018

    10) Point No.(3): The D.Hr filed the Execution
    Petition claiming a sum of Rs.5,75,33,970/-

    with future interest and costs. The contention
    of the D.Hr from the beginning was that he was
    entitled for compound rate of interest at 18%
    4
    p.a., on the amount shown in the Annexure AW-1
    attached to the Award. The contention of the
    J.Dr was that the J.Dr was liable to pay the
    amount mentioned in the Annexure AW1, which was
    subsequently calculated and determined by the
    Additional District Judge, Chandigarh while
    deciding an application under Section 19 of
    MSMED Act, 2006.

    The J.Dr took a clear stand in his counter as
    if the J.Dr discharged total decretal amount
    and was not liable to pay any amount.

    10.2) During the pendency of this Execution
    Petition, the J.Dr filed an application vide
    C.E.A.No.1/2020 to reject C.E.P.No.1/2020 on
    the ground that the amount due under the Award
    was discharged and the award was satisfied. The
    parties to C.E.A.No.1/2020 let their evidence,
    and they also produced all the documents
    including the Award, the judgment passed by the
    learned Additional District Judge, Chandigarh
    while deciding the petition under Section 34 of
    the Act No.26 of 1996 and other consequential
    orders. This Court, after considering the
    language used in the award, the findings
    recorded by the Additional District Judge,
    Chandigarh in Arbitration Case No.579/10 in the
    light of the directions given by the Hon’ble
    High Court of Punjab & Haryana and the Hon’ble
    Supreme Court of India came to conclusion that
    the J.Dr was liable to pay a sum of Rs.

    1,02,664/- only. The J.Dr contended that he
    paid excessive amount of Rs. Rs. 44,995/- in
    the Award subject matter of C.E.P.No.2 of 2020
    and there was balance of Rs.57,669/-. But, the
    D.Hr examined PW.1 Alok Sharma and filed chief
    affidavit narrating the same facts as stated
    in C.E.A.No. 1/2020 and claiming a sum of
    Rs.7,79,30,376/- as on 31-07-2020. He also
    sought the future interest from 31.07.2020 till
    the date of payment/realization

    10.3) This Court after considering the total
    evidence oral and documentary, came to
    conclusion that the J.Dr was liable to pay a
    sum of Rs.1,02,664/- only, but not the amount
    mentioned in the chief affidavit of PW1 Alok
    Sharma or in the detailed calculation memo by
    bill-wise. Hence, I cannot come to conclusion
    that the calculations made by the D.Hr are true
    and correct. I safely concluded that the J.Dr
    was liable to pay only a sum of Rs.1,02,664/-
    only subject to adjustments according to law as
    5
    decided in C.E.A.No. 1/2020. This point is
    answered accordingly.

    11.7) In my humble view, the failure to pay the
    decretal amount by the Government or a
    Government Company cannot be regarded as
    refusal or the negligence on behalf of a public
    servant holding the post in Government or
    Government Company. So, when the Government or
    the Government Company is Judgment Debtor, the
    D.Hr may execute the decree against the
    property of the Government or the Government
    Company, but not against the public servant
    holding any post in the Government or
    Government Company, otherwise, one public
    servant may be arrested for the negligence or
    refusal on the part of the other public
    servant, as argued by the learned counsel for
    the J.Dr. So, in my considerable view, an
    Execution Petition for arrest and detention of
    the Chairman and Managing Director or other
    Directors of the J.Dr is not maintainable,
    especially when there is no pleading and
    evidence on record that any particular Chairman
    and Managing Director or other Directors
    representing the J.Dr intentionally refused or
    neglected to pay the decretal amount. As such,
    the Execution Petition is liable to be
    dismissed on this point alone. This point is
    answered accordingly.

    12) In the result, the Execution Petition is
    dismissed. No costs.”

    Execution Petition Nos 1513 of 2018

    10) Point No.(3): The D.Hr filed the Execution
    Petition claiming a sum of Rs. 5,90,82,703/-
    with future interest and costs. The contention
    of the D.Hr from the beginning was that he was
    entitled for compound rate of interest at 18%
    p.a., on the amount shown in the Annexure AW-1
    attached to the Award. The contention of the
    J.Dr was that the J.Dr was liable to pay the
    amount mentioned in the Annexure AW1, which was
    subsequently calculated and determined by the
    Additional District Judge, Chandigarh while
    deciding an application under Section 19 of
    MSMED Act, 2006. The J.Dr took a clear stand in
    his counter as if the J.Dr discharged total
    6
    decretal amount and was not liable to pay any
    amount.

    10.2) During the pendency of the Execution
    Petition, the J.Dr filed an application vide
    C.E.A.No.5/2020 to reject C.E.P.No.2/2020 on
    the ground that the amount due under the award
    was discharged and the award was set aside. The
    parties to CEA No.5/2020 let their evidence,
    and they also produced all the documents
    including the Award, the judgment passed by the
    learned Additional District Judge, Chandigarh
    while deciding the petition under Section 34 of
    the Act No.26 of 1996 and other consequential
    orders. This Court, after considering the
    language used in the Award, the findings
    recorded by the Additional District Judge,
    Chandigarh in Arbitration Case No.580/10 in the
    light of the directions given by the Hon’ble
    High Court of Punjab & Haryana and the Hon’ble
    Supreme Court of India came to conclusion that
    the J.Dr was liable to pay a sum of
    Rs.24,50,046/-only. The J.Dr contended that he
    deposited a sum of Rs.16,81,964/-,
    Rs.1,35,203/-, Rs.6,57,506/- and Rs.20,368/-, a
    total sum of Rs.24,95,041/- and there was
    excess amount of Rs.44,995/-. But, the D.Hr
    examined PW.1 Alok Sharma and filed chief
    affidavit narrating the same facts as stated in
    C.E.A.No.5/2020 and claiming a sum of
    Rs.8,01,33,556/- as on 14.08.2020. He also
    sought the future interest till the date of
    payment/ realization. In the evidence for D.Hr
    by PW1 Alok Sharma, he admitted that the
    petitioner deposited a sum of Rs. 18,17,167/-
    towards the satisfaction of the Award under
    execution in C.E.P.No.2 of 2020. He denied a
    suggestion that the petitioner deposited a sum
    of Rs.24,95,041/-. As I earlier mentioned the
    J.Dr contended that he deposited excess amount
    of Rs.44,995/- under the Award in execution in
    C.E.P.No.2 of 2020. If so, the J.Dr can go for
    adjustment or recovery of the same according to
    Law. The same is matter of verification of
    deposits or payments, and calculation.

    10.3) This Court after considering the total
    evidence oral and documentary, came to
    conclusion that the J.Dr was liable to pay a
    sum of Rs.24,50,046/- only, but not the amount
    mentioned in the chief affidavit of PWI – Alok
    Sharma or in the detailed calculation memo by
    bill-wise. Hence, I cannot come to conclusion
    that the calculations made by the D.Hr are true
    7
    and correct. I safely concluded that the J.Dr
    was liable to pay only a sum of Rs. 24,50,046/-
    as decided in C.E.A.No.5/2020. After
    verification of the deposits, the adjustments
    shall be made or the J.Dr shall recover the
    excessive amount if any according to law. This
    point is ‘answered accordingly.

    11.7) In my humble view, the failure to pay the
    decretal amount by the Govemment or a
    Government Company cannot be regarded as
    refusal or the negligence on behalf of a public
    servant holding the post in Government or
    Government Company. So, when the Government or
    the Government Company is Judgment Debtor, the
    D.Hr may execute the decree against the
    property of the Government or the Government
    Company, but not against the public servant
    holding any post in the Government or
    Government Company, otherwise, one public
    servant may be arrested for the negligence or
    refusal on the part of the other public
    servant, as argued by the learned counsel for
    the J.Dr. So, in my considerable view, an
    Execution Petition for arrest and detention of
    the Chairman and Managing Director or other
    Directors of the J.Dr is not maintainable,
    especially when there is no pleading and
    evidence on record that any particular Chairman
    and Managing Director or other Directors
    representing the J.Dr intentionally refused or
    neglected to pay the decretal amount. As such,
    the Execution Petition is liable to be
    dismissed on this point alone.

    This point is answered accordingly.

    In the result, the Execution Petition is
    dismissed. No costs.”

    7. The respondent no. 2 challenged the orders passed by the

    Executing Court by filing three Civil Revision Petitions being CRP

    No. 74, 197 and 220 of 2021 which are said to have been pending

    before the High Court of Andhra Pradesh.

    8. Returning to the Writ Petitions filed by the appellant against

    8
    the order passed by the Facilitation Council on 11.07.2018, being

    WP No. 34399 and 34412 of 2018, it may be indicated that the

    appellant questioned the order on the ground that the Facilitation

    Council had become functus officio after passing of the award(s).

    It was also argued that the Facilitation Council could not have

    entertained Review Petition(s) against its order dated 06.09.2017.

    9. The High Court considered the matter in detail and came to the

    conclusion that the order dated 11.07.2018 was passed without

    giving an opportunity to the appellant. In other words, the Writ

    Petitions were allowed on the ground that the principles of natural

    justice has been violated. In this view of the matter, the High

    Court merely remanded the case to the Facilitation Council for

    disposal after hearing both the parties.

    10. Heard Mr. Nakul Dewan, learned senior counsel for the

    appellant, assisted by Mr. Rakesh K. Sharma. Mr. Dewan would submit

    that having found that Facilitation Council does not have

    jurisdiction, there is no justification whatsoever for the High

    Court to remand the matters back to the Facilitation Council. We

    also heard Mr. Manish Kumar Saran, learned counsel for the

    respondents.

    11. Having considered the matter in detail, we are of the opinion

    that the respondent no.2 is seeking nothing more than execution of

    the award(s) that have attained finality. The actual amount that

    needs to be paid could be determined either on the basis of

    award(s) dated 21.06.2010 or on the basis of the calculations made

    in the order dated 11.07.2018. However, since such Execution

    Petitions came to be dismissed and revisions against those orders

    9
    are pending before the High Court, we deem it appropriate to

    restore the Writ Petitions challenging the order dated 11.07.2018

    and direct them to be heard along with Civil Revision Petitions for

    common adjudication and determination. By this process, we are of

    the opinion that there could be a joint hearing in the civil

    revisions as well as the Writ Petitions, when issues in both the

    proceedings are similar arising from the same award(s) and between

    the same parties. This process of adjudication will also avoid the

    possibility of conflicting orders, apart from ensuring expeditious

    disposal. Parties are at liberty to raise and contest all issues of

    law and fact that may be permissible in law.

    12. In view of the above discussion, we allow the appeals, set

    aside the order(s) of the High Court in Writ Petition No. 34399 and

    34412 of 2018 dated 08.09.2022 and direct that the Writ Petitions

    being Writ Petition No. 34399 and 34412 of 2018 will be taken up

    with CRP Nos. 74, 197 and 220 of 2021 and disposed of in accordance

    with law. In view of the long pendency, we request the High Court

    to endeavour to dispose of the cases expeditiously, preferably

    within a period of 4 months from today.

    13. With these observations, the appeals are allowed.

    …………………………………………………………………………J.
    [PAMIDIGHANTAM SRI NARASIMHA]

    …………………………………………………………………………J.
    [ALOK ARADHE]

    NEW DELHI;

    MARCH 12, 2026
    
    
                                                10
    ITEM NO.111                COURT NO.6                SECTION III-A
    
                    S U P R E M E C O U R T O F     I N D I A
                            RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
    
    

    Civil Appeal No(s). 10420-10421/2024

    TRANSMISSION CORPORATION OF ANDHRA
    PRADESH LIMITED (A.P. TRANSCO) Appellant(s)

    VERSUS

    HARYANA MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES
    FACILITATION COUNCIL & ORS. Respondent(s)

    [ RETAIN ITS POSITION ]
    IA No. 316385/2025 – EARLY HEARING APPLICATION

    Date : 12-03-2026 This matter was called on for hearing today.

    CORAM : HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PAMIDIGHANTAM SRI NARASIMHA
    HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ALOK ARADHE

    For Appellant(s) : Mr. Nakul Dewan, Sr. Adv.

    Mr. Rakesh K. Sharma, AOR
    Ms. Adviteeya, Adv.

    For Respondent(s) :Mr. Manish Kumar Saran, AOR
    Mr. Aditya Mani Saran, Adv.

    Mr. Sidhant Sharma, Adv.

    Dr. Monika Gusain, Sr. Adv.

    Mr. Akshay Amritanshu, AOR
    Ms. S. Harini, Adv.

    Mr. Sarthak Srivastava, Adv.

    Mr. Mayur Goyal, Adv.

    Mr. Sanjay Kapur, AOR
    Mr. Surya Prakash, Adv.

    Ms. Shubhra Kapur, Adv.

    Ms. Santha Smruthi, Adv.

    UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following
    O R D E R

    1. The Civil Appeals are allowed in terms of the Signed Order.

    2. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of.

    (KAPIL TANDON)                                  (NIDHI WASON)
    COURT MASTER (SH)                           ASSTT. REGISTRAR(NSH)
                    (Signed Order is placed on the file)
                                     11
    



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