{"id":311001,"date":"2024-01-09T09:00:12","date_gmt":"2024-01-09T03:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=311001"},"modified":"2024-01-08T19:13:16","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T13:43:16","slug":"right-to-preserve-the-substratum-of-subject-matter-of-dispute-arising-out-of-inadequately-stamped-agreement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/01\/09\/right-to-preserve-the-substratum-of-subject-matter-of-dispute-arising-out-of-inadequately-stamped-agreement\/","title":{"rendered":"Right to Preserve the Substratum of Subject-Matter of Dispute arising out of Inadequately Stamped Agreement"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Introduction<\/h4>\n

Arbitration is widely chosen as a dispute resolution mechanism for its inherent benefits of party autonomy and speedy resolution. Section 5<\/a>1<\/sup><\/a> of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996<\/a> (the Arbitration Act) follows Article 52<\/sup><\/a> of the UNCITRAL Model Law and formulates the legislative mandate of judicial non-interference in arbitration.<\/p>\n

However, courts have, time and again, been posed with certain fundamental questions, predominantly at a pre-reference stage. A recent example has been whether an arbitration agreement is deemed to be valid and enforceable in the eventuality it is not adequately stamped in accordance with the provisions of the Stamp Act, 1899<\/a>3<\/sup><\/a> (the Stamp Act).<\/p>\n

Discussion on the interplay between the Stamp Act and the Arbitration Act cannot be delved into without analysing the Supreme Court’s judgment in N.N. Global Mercantile (P) Ltd.<\/span> v. Indo Unique Flame Ltd.<\/span>4<\/sup><\/a> (N.N. Global I<\/span>). The case was initially decided by a 3-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court of India which held that an arbitration agreement is separable from the main contract and the issue of adequate stamping does not have a bearing on the constitution of an Arbitral Tribunal. This reasoning was reversed by a 5-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court of India on 25-4-20235<\/sup><\/a> where it held that an arbitration agreement being intertwined with the unstamped contract is invalid and not enforceable under the Contract Act, 1872<\/a>6<\/sup><\/a> (N.N. Global II<\/span>). Consequently, such an arbitration agreement would be impounded under Sections 337<\/sup><\/a> and 358<\/sup><\/a> of the Stamp Act to cure the defect prior to referring the parties to arbitration.<\/p>\n

In view of the conflicting views passed in N.N. Global I case<\/span>9<\/sup><\/a> and N.N. Global II case<\/span>10<\/sup><\/a>, and the issue being a highly debated topic, a 7-Judge Constitution Bench was formed by the Supreme Court of India in Interplay between Arbitration Agreements under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996<\/a> and the Indian Stamp Act, 1899<\/a>, In re<\/span> (hereinafter curative petition case<\/span>).11<\/sup><\/a> The 7-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court in the curative petition case<\/span>12<\/sup><\/a> overruled N.N. Global II case<\/span>13<\/sup><\/a> and settled the debate by adopting a pragmatic and efficient approach while holding that the validity of an unstamped or insufficiently stamped agreement does not arise at the reference stage of arbitration. Further, under the principle of kompetenz-kompetenz, the Arbitral Tribunal has ample power to determine the existence and validity of the arbitration agreement.<\/p>\n

Right to seek interim relief arising out of an inadequately stamped agreement<\/h4>\n

Pertinently, the decisions in N.N. Global I case<\/span>14<\/sup><\/a>, N.N. Global II case<\/span>15<\/sup><\/a> and the curative petition case<\/span>16<\/sup><\/a> were largely restricted in ascertaining the impact of an insufficiently stamped agreement while a court is considering an application for appointment of arbitrator(s) under Section 11(6-A)17<\/sup><\/a> of the Arbitration Act. The aforesaid decisions did not delve into great detail with regard to the stage of ascertaining the grant of interim relief under Section 918<\/sup><\/a> of the Arbitration Act. While the Supreme Court in N.N. Global II case<\/span>19<\/sup><\/a> noted that the reference was not concerned with the examination of the scope of Section 9 of the Arbitration Act, the decision in the curative petition case<\/span> held the following:<\/p>\n

195. …<\/span>The discussion in the preceding segments also make it evident that courts are not required to deal with the issue of stamping at the stage of granting interim measures under Section 9.20<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

The interplay of the Stamp Act and Section 9 of the Arbitration Act is dealt with in more detail by the Bombay High Court, in Universals Enterprises<\/span> v. Deluxe Laboratories (P) Ltd.<\/span>21<\/sup><\/a> (Deluxe Laboratories<\/span>) which considered the powers of a court while ascertaining grant of interim relief under Section 9 of the Arbitration Act in the context of a dispute arising out of an unstamped agreement. It was held that while a court is exercising its powers under Section 9 of the Arbitration Act, it is not required to analyse whether the underlying\/arbitration agreement is in compliance with the Stamp Act.<\/p>\n

The Bombay High Court has maintained a similar view in Gautam Landscapes (P) Ltd.<\/span> v. Shailesh S. Shah<\/span>22<\/sup><\/a> (Gautam Landscapes<\/span>) wherein it held that a court at such a preliminary stage is not required to examine whether the underlying\/arbitration agreement is appropriately stamped while considering an application under Section 9 of the Arbitration Act.<\/p>\n

The Bombay High Court in L&T Finance Ltd.<\/span> v. Diamond Projects Ltd.<\/span>23<\/sup><\/a> (L&T decision<\/span>) reiterated the scope of adjudication to be adopted by a court when considering an application seeking interim relief under Section 9 of the Arbitration Act and whether compliance of the Stamp Act is required to be considered at such a stage. While considering a catena of judgments such as Deluxe Laboratories case<\/span>24<\/sup><\/a> and Gautam Landscapes case<\/span>25<\/sup><\/a> the Bombay High Court distinguished between the scope of examination under Sections 9 and 1126<\/sup><\/a> of the Arbitration Act.<\/p>\n

It was stated that the powers to grant interim relief under Section 9 of the Arbitration Act are akin to powers under Order 39 Rules 127<\/sup><\/a> and 228<\/sup><\/a> of the Civil Procedure Code. At this stage, the courts ought not to analyse the validity of the contract and must restrict themselves in deciding if the party satisfies the threefold test of interim relief i.e. prima facie case, balance of convenience and irreparable loss.<\/p>\n

The Bombay High Court in L&T decision<\/span>29<\/sup><\/a> rightly held that the parties ought to be protected in seeking interim reliefs in order to preserve the substratum of the subject-matter of the dispute if the parties are able to successfully establish their case. While doing so, the Bombay High Court distinguished between Sections 9 and 11 of the Arbitration Act on the basis that applications seeking appointment of arbitrator(s) under Section 11 certainly require an examination of the existence of an arbitration agreement, which would require ascertaining the compliance of the Stamp Act,30<\/sup><\/a> whereas a court’s examination under Section 9 ought to be judged on the parameter of the ingredients for grant of interim relief only.<\/p>\n

The Bombay High Court in this decision was conscious of the severity and possible consequences of a party’s rights under law, if faced with obstacles at a stage of seeking interim relief. It noted that a party which chooses the mode of arbitration for dispute resolution would suffer a setback if prior to invocation, a party would be refused an interim relief on the ground of insufficiency of stamp duty. On the other hand, if a party approaches a civil court for the resolution of its dispute, non-stamping would not be an obstacle. Such circumstances would certainly discourage parties from opting for arbitration as a mechanism for dispute resolution.<\/p>\n

Conclusion and the way forward<\/h4>\n

Admissibility of applications under the Arbitration Act in connection to the unstamped or insufficiently stamped agreement has taken multiple turns during the last five years.<\/p>\n

The debate on maintainability of an application under Section 9 of the Arbitration Act of an unstamped arbitration agreement has been correctly settled by the Bombay High Court by adopting a pragmatic approach. Through the L&T decision<\/span>31<\/sup><\/a>, the Bombay High Court has kept in mind the urgency of a stage in seeking interim relief and secured the interests of justice for parties seeking interim relief in order to protect their rights and interests in law.<\/p>\n

Notably, while the Bombay High Court in the aforesaid decisions has dealt with the interplay of the provisions of the Stamp Act and Section 9 of the Arbitration Act in great detail, the same has also been reconfirmed by the Supreme Court in the curative petition<\/span> decision as detailed above.32<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

The aforesaid decisions have also ensured the avoidance in causing unnecessary delay in securing urgent relief which in many cases would have caused irreparable loss or harm to a party, and possibly resulted in parties opting out of choosing arbitration as a mechanism for dispute resolution.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\u2020Partner at AZB & Partners. Author can be reached at abhijnan.jha@azbpartners.com<\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2020\u2020Senior Associate at AZB & Partners. Author can be reached at bhagya.yadav@azbpartners.com<\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2020\u2020\u2020Associate at AZB & Partners. Author can be reached at pranav.tomar@azbpartners.com<\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

1.<\/a> Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, S. 5.<\/a><\/p>\n

2.<\/a> UNCITRAL Model Law, Art. 5.<\/a><\/p>\n

3.<\/a> Stamp Act, 1899.<\/a><\/p>\n

4.<\/a> (2021) 4 SCC 379.<\/a><\/p>\n

5.<\/a> N.N. Global Mercantile (P) Ltd.<\/span> v. Indo Unique Flame Ltd.<\/span>, (2023) 7 SCC 1.<\/a><\/p>\n

6.<\/a> Contract Act, 1872.<\/a><\/p>\n

7.<\/a> Stamp Act, 1899, S. 33.<\/a><\/p>\n

8.<\/a> Stamp Act, 1899, S. 35.<\/a><\/p>\n

9.<\/a> (2021) 4 SCC 379.<\/a><\/p>\n

10.<\/a> (2023) 7 SCC 1.<\/a><\/p>\n

11.<\/a> 2023 SCC OnLine SC 1666.<\/a><\/p>\n

12.<\/a> 2023 SCC OnLine SC 1666.<\/a><\/p>\n

13.<\/a> (2023) 7 SCC 1.<\/a><\/p>\n

14.<\/a> (2021) 4 SCC 379.<\/a><\/p>\n

15.<\/a> (2023) 7 SCC 1.<\/a><\/p>\n

16.<\/a> Interplay between Arbitration Agreements under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 and the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, In re<\/span>, 2023 SCC OnLine SC 1666<\/a>.<\/p>\n

17.<\/a> Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, S. 11(6-A).<\/a><\/p>\n

18.<\/a> Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, S. 9.<\/a><\/p>\n

19.<\/a> (2023) 7 SCC 1.<\/a><\/p>\n

20.<\/a> Interplay between Arbitration Agreements under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 and the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, In re<\/span>, 2023 SCC OnLine SC 1666<\/a>.<\/p>\n

21.<\/a> 2016 SCC OnLine Bom 3963.<\/a><\/p>\n

22.<\/a> 2019 SCC OnLine Bom 563.<\/a><\/p>\n

23.<\/a> Commercial Arbitration Petition No. 1430 of 2019, order dt. 27-10-2023 [Bom HC].<\/p>\n

24.<\/a> 2016 SCC OnLine Bom 3963.<\/a><\/p>\n

25.<\/a> 2019 SCC OnLine Bom 563.<\/a><\/p>\n

26.<\/a> Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, S. 11.<\/a><\/p>\n

27.<\/a> Civil Procedure Code, 1908, Or. 39 R. 1.<\/a><\/p>\n

28.<\/a> Civil Procedure Code, 1908, Or. 39 R. 2.<\/a><\/p>\n

29.<\/a> L&T Finance Ltd.<\/span> v. Diamond Projects Ltd.<\/span>, Commercial Arbitration Petition No. 1430 of 2019, order dt. 27-10-2023 [Bom HC].<\/p>\n

30.<\/a> Gautam Landscapes (P) Ltd.<\/span> v. Shailesh S. Shah<\/span>, 2019 SCC OnLine Bom 563.<\/a><\/p>\n

31.<\/a> L&T Finance Ltd.<\/span> v. Diamond Projects Ltd.<\/span>, Commercial Arbitration Petition No. 1430 of 2019, order dt. 27-10-2023 [Bom HC].<\/p>\n

32.<\/a> Interplay between Arbitration Agreements under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 and the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, In re<\/span>, 2023 SCC OnLine SC 1666.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Abhijnan Jha\u2020, Bhagya K. 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Hari Shankar, J. observed that, The question of whether, once a bench of the Supreme Court has doubted the correctness of an earlier bench of co-equal strength, and referred the issue to a larger bench, Courts lower in hierarchy should continue to follow the earlier decision,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":309167,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2023\/12\/13\/7-judge-bench-verdict-supreme-court-judgment-on-validity-of-unstamped-arbitration-agreement\/","url_meta":{"origin":311001,"position":3},"title":"7-Judge Bench Verdict | Supreme Court Judgment on validity of Unstamped Arbitration Agreement","author":"Apoorva","date":"December 13, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cThe concept of separability or severability of an arbitration agreement from the underlying contract is a legal fiction which acknowledges the separate nature of an arbitration agreement. The separate nature of the arbitration agreement from the underlying contract is one of the cornerstones of arbitration law\u201d","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/MicrosoftTeams-image-195.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/MicrosoftTeams-image-195.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/MicrosoftTeams-image-195.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/MicrosoftTeams-image-195.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":222709,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2019\/11\/30\/bom-hc-stamp-duty-cannot-be-avoided-on-arbitration-agreement-even-if-the-rest-of-the-contract-is-executed-outside-state\/","url_meta":{"origin":311001,"position":4},"title":"Bom HC | Stamp duty cannot be avoided on arbitration agreement, even if the rest of the contract is executed outside state","author":"Bhumika Indulia","date":"November 30, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Bombay High Court:\u00a0G.S.Patel, J., held that an arbitration agreement must be stamped in the state where the arbitration is to take place, even if the only \"thing to be done\" in the state is the arbitration of the dispute. 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