Section 20A explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Section 20A, inserted by the 2018 Act, says a court shall not grant an injunction in a suit under the Act involving a contract relating to an infrastructure project in the Schedule, where the injunction would cause impediment or delay in the progress or completion of the project. It also defines "infrastructure project", lets the Central Government amend the Schedule, and requires such notifications to be laid before Parliament.
This article follows the consolidated text of the Act consulted (amendments shown up to Act 18 of 2018). Later amendments, including any notification under section 20A(2), should be checked before you rely on it.
No injunction may be granted in a suit under the Act involving a contract relating to an infrastructure project specified in the Schedule, where the injunction would cause impediment or delay in the progress or completion of the project. "Infrastructure project" means the categories and sub-sectors in the Schedule, for the purposes of section 20A, section 20B and section 41(ha). The Central Government may amend the Schedule by notification, and each notification is laid before Parliament for a total of thirty days.
Where section 20A sits
Section 20A is printed within the square bracket that begins at section 20. The footnote to section 20 shows it was substituted by Act 18 of 2018 (section 10, with effect from 1 October 2018), and the bracket runs on through sections 20A, 20B and 20C. The text consulted therefore shows section 20A as part of what the 2018 Act brought in. Its heading is "Special provisions for contract relating to infrastructure project". The preceding section, on getting a broken contract performed by someone else, is explained in section 20.
If your contract is for a road, power plant, pipeline or similar project and a dispute is likely to produce an application for an injunction, you can discuss the position with our commercial suit filing team early.
Section 20A(1): the bar on injunctions
"No injunction shall be granted by a court in a suit under this Act involving a contract relating to an infrastructure project specified in the Schedule, where granting injunction would cause impediment or delay in the progress or completion of such infrastructure project."
Four things must be present together:
- a suit under this Act;
- which involves a contract relating to an infrastructure project specified in the Schedule;
- an injunction is sought; and
- granting it would cause impediment or delay in the progress or completion of the project.
The sub-section is a bar on a remedy, not on the suit. The rest of the Act's remedies, such as compensation or damages, are not mentioned in this sub-section. An invented example: Delta Power has a contract to build a transmission line, and a supplier sues under the Act seeking an injunction to stop Delta Power from using other equipment. If granting that injunction would cause delay in completing the line, section 20A(1) bars it, provided the project is in the Schedule.
The same idea is repeated in the list of cases in which an injunction is refused; see section 41, whose clause (ha) refers to infrastructure projects.
The Explanation: what "infrastructure project" means
It sits between sub-sections (1) and (2) in the printed text. It reads: "For the purposes of this section, section 20B and clause (ha) of section 41, the expression 'infrastructure project' means the category of projects and infrastructure Sub-Sectors specified in the Schedule."
So the Schedule defines the term for three provisions: section 20A, section 20B (Special Courts) and section 41(ha). The Schedule lists five categories: Transport, Energy, Water and Sanitation, Communication, and Social and Commercial Infrastructure, each with sub-sectors. Our article on the Schedule to the Specific Relief Act sets them out.
Section 20A(2): power to amend the Schedule
"The Central Government may, depending upon the requirement for development of infrastructure projects, and if it considers necessary or expedient to do so, by notification in the Official Gazette, amend the Schedule relating to any Category of projects or Infrastructure Sub-Sectors."
The power belongs to the Central Government and is exercised by notification in the Official Gazette. It extends to "any Category of projects or Infrastructure Sub-Sectors". The text consulted shows the Schedule as inserted in 2018 and nothing later. Whether any notification has since changed it should be checked in the current Act and the Gazette.
Section 20A(3): laying before Parliament
"Every notification issued under this Act by the Central Government shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is issued, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the notification or both Houses agree that the notification should not be made, the notification shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that notification."
In plain words: each notification is placed before both Houses of Parliament for a total of thirty days, in one session or across successive sessions. If both Houses agree to modify it or agree it should not be made, it then takes effect only as modified or not at all, but anything already done under it stays valid.
Drafting note: sub-section (3) speaks of "Every notification issued under this Act by the Central Government", which is wider than the notifications under sub-section (2) alone.
| Part | What it does | Key words |
|---|---|---|
| 20A(1) | Bars injunctions | Suit under the Act; contract relating to infrastructure project in the Schedule; impediment or delay |
| Explanation | Defines "infrastructure project" | Categories and sub-sectors in the Schedule; for section 20A, section 20B and section 41(ha) |
| 20A(2) | Amendment power | Central Government; notification in the Official Gazette |
| 20A(3) | Parliamentary control | Thirty days in total; modification or annulment without prejudice to what was done |
Related provisions
Section 20A works with section 20B, under which the State Government designates Special Courts for suits about infrastructure contracts, and section 20C on disposal of suits within twelve months; both are in our article on sections 20B-20C.
Practical points
Check whether the project falls under a category and sub-sector in the Schedule, using the current Schedule. Check the text of the contract: section 20A(1) applies to a contract "relating to" such a project. Remember that the bar is on injunctions that would cause impediment or delay, so if an injunction would not have that effect, the sub-section does not itself bar it. For other remedies, such as compensation, see section 21. The Act prints no limitation period here; the law of limitation should be checked for the suit.
Need help with a dispute on an infrastructure contract?
When a project is running and a counterparty threatens to go to court, the first questions are whether the project is within the Schedule and what remedy is really open. You can talk to our commercial suit filing team about the contract and the dispute.
Key takeaways
- Section 20A bars an injunction that would impede or delay an infrastructure project specified in the Schedule, in a suit under the Act.
- "Infrastructure project" is defined by the Schedule, for sections 20A, 20B and 41(ha).
- The Central Government may amend the Schedule by notification in the Official Gazette.
- Notifications are laid before each House of Parliament for a total of thirty days.
- The text consulted shows the section as part of the 2018 insertion and nothing later; check for later notifications.
Read next
- The Schedule to the Specific Relief Act, 1963: infrastructure projects and sub-sectors
- Section 41 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963: injunction when refused
- Sections 20B-20C of the Specific Relief Act, 1963: Special Courts and disposal of suits within twelve months
Disclaimer: Based on a consolidated text of the Specific Relief Act, 1963 showing amendments up to the Specific Relief (Amendment) Act, 2018 (in force from 1 October 2018), as consulted on 2 October 2026. Later amendments, notifications under the Act and the law of limitation should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.