In Brief
A British court decree (from the High Court of Justice, Queen's Bench Division) against an Indian company needed execution in India. The decree, worth over Rs. 20 lakhs, was initially filed in Delhi High Court, which passed orders on merits. The respondent's appeal to a Division Bench succeeded on the jurisdictional ground that only District Courts, not High Courts, could execute foreign decrees under Section 44A. The Supreme Court reversed this, holding that where pecuniary limits are exceeded, the High Court becomes the principal court of original jurisdiction and can execute foreign decrees. Execution is a continuation of the suit proceedings, so jurisdiction follows ordinary civil jurisdiction rules.
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