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Paramount Communications Limited vs. Bharat Broadband Limited

Enforcement Petition (Commercial Arbitration) · 2026:DHC:8495Decided 29 Sept 2026New Delhi Bench
OMP (ENF.) (COMM.) 12/2025CNR: DLHC010012112025
Justice Om Prakash Shukla

Background

Paramount Communications sought to enforce an arbitral award against Bharat Broadband Limited. On scrutiny, the Court found that stamp duty on the award had been paid more than one month after the award was made, which does not comply with the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 as applicable in Delhi.

Decision Breakdown

Relying on the Court's own recent ruling in URC Construction (P) Ltd. v. Airports Authority of India, the decree-holder's counsel sought permission to withdraw the petition and refile once the stamp duty defect was cured. The Court granted this liberty and dismissed the petition as withdrawn.

Lesson Learnt

An arbitral award must be properly stamped within the statutory time limit before it can be enforced in court: a delay in paying stamp duty can derail (though not permanently bar) enforcement proceedings.

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