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Issues:
- Validity of an award due to lack of stamp duty - Jurisdiction of the District Judge in impounding the award - Interpretation of relevant provisions of the Indian Stamp Act Validity of Award due to Lack of Stamp Duty: The case involved a contract dispute that was referred to arbitration, resulting in an award by an umpire. The appellant argued that the award was invalid and illegal due to being unstamped, contending that unstamped instruments have no legal existence. The Stamp Act requires instruments to be duly stamped to be admissible in evidence or acted upon. The District Judge impounded the award and directed the respondents to pay the appropriate stamp duty and penalty. The Collector could then adjudicate whether the award was duly stamped and levy penalty if necessary. The Court clarified that an unstamped instrument cannot be acted upon until the stamp duty and penalty are paid, as per the Stamp Act provisions. Jurisdiction of the District Judge in Impounding the Award: The appellant challenged the jurisdiction of the District Judge in entertaining the application for filing the unstamped award. However, the Court held that the District Judge acted within jurisdiction by impounding the award and sending it to the Collector for stamp duty assessment. The Stamp Act empowers the Collector to determine the stamp duty and penalty on unstamped instruments, enabling their validation for legal purposes. Interpretation of Relevant Provisions of the Indian Stamp Act: The Court analyzed various sections of the Indian Stamp Act, emphasizing that the Act aims to secure revenue for the State and not to provide litigants with technical loopholes. Section 35 prohibits the admission of unstamped instruments in evidence or their enforcement, while Section 42 outlines the procedure for certifying instruments as duly stamped. The Court rejected an argument suggesting that unstamped instruments could be admitted in evidence but not acted upon, clarifying that the Stamp Act allows for the validation and enforcement of unstamped instruments upon payment of stamp duty and penalty. The judgment highlighted the importance of following the Act's procedures to ensure the legality of instruments. In conclusion, the appeal challenging the impounding and stamping of the award was dismissed by the Court, affirming the District Judge's jurisdiction and the Stamp Act's provisions regarding unstamped instruments.
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