Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
Enforcement of arbitral award-Virtual hearing-Counsel appearing from a moving car-Stamp duty-Arbitral award dated 13-11-2024-Stamp duty paid only on 24-12-2025, beyond one month from the date of execution-Payment held not in consonance with the judgment in M/s URC Construction (P) Ltd. v. Airports Authority of India-Decree holder directed to furnish proof of payment of stamp duty along with penalty-Matter listed for compliance. Counsel appearing from a moving car during virtual hearing-Conduct held contrary to Electronic Evidence and Video Conferencing Rules, 2025-Cost of ₹1 lakh imposed, payable to Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee. [Electronic Evidence and Video Conferencing Rules, 2025.]
The petitions were filed by South Indian Bank Ltd. and Union Bank of India Ltd., through South Indian Bank Ltd. as lenders’ representative, for enforcement of an arbitral award against the National Highways Authority of India. The Delhi High Court noted that the arbitral award sought to be enforced was dated 13-11-2024, whereas the stamp duty was paid only on 24-12-2025, which was beyond one month from the date of execution of the award and was not in consonance with the Court’s judgment in M/s URC Construction (P) Ltd. v. Airports Authority of India. The counsel for the decree holder submitted that stamp duty along with penalty had already been deposited before the Collector and undertook to furnish proof thereof within one week. The Court accordingly directed production of proof of payment and listed the matter for 15-10-2026. The Court also deprecated the appearance of counsel from a moving car during virtual proceedings, observing that such conduct violated the Electronic Evidence and Video Conferencing Rules, 2025, and imposed a cost of ₹1 lakh payable to the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee. (CNR No. DLHC010172082026, Order dt. 28-09-2026)
South Indian Bank Ltd. v. National Highways Authority of India (Delhi)(HC) [www.itatonline.org]