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Mathur & Kapre Associates Private Limited vs. Union of India

Enforcement Petition (Commercial Arbitration) · 2026:DHC:8492Decided 29 Sept 2026New Delhi Bench
OMP (ENF.) (COMM.) 124/2018CNR: DLHC011332882018
Justice Om Prakash Shukla

Background

The petitioner sought to enforce an arbitral award against the Union of India. As in the preceding cases on the same day's cause list, the stamp duty on the award had been paid beyond the one-month window prescribed by the Indian Stamp Act, 1899.

Decision Breakdown

Following the same precedent (URC Construction), the Court granted the petitioner leave to withdraw the petition, with liberty to refile once the stamp duty defect is rectified, and dismissed the petition as withdrawn.

Lesson Learnt

A recurring practical reminder: parties seeking to enforce arbitral awards in Delhi must ensure stamp duty is paid within one month of the award, or risk having enforcement proceedings stalled on this technical but mandatory ground.

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