It is well settled, an Arbitration Agreement is distinct and separate; independent from the substantive commercial contract in which it is embedded. Autonomy of Arbitration Agreement is based on twin concepts of separability and kompetenz – kompetenz; which, though inter-related, are distinct.

Doctrine of Separability of Arbitration Agreement connotes, invalidity, ineffectiveness or termination of the substantive commercial contract would not affect validity of Arbitration Agreement. Except, if Arbitration Agreement itself is void ab initio. Doctrine of Separability was expounded in Heyman v. Darwins Ltd., [1942] AC 356; Bremer Vulkan Schiffbau und Maschinefabrik v. South India Shipping Corporation, [1981] AC 909; Harbour Assurance v. Kansa General International Insurance, [1993] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 455 (CA); Lesotho Highlands Development Authority v. Impregilo SpA, [2005] UKHL 43; Gosset v. Caparelli, Cass. Civ. Lere, 7 May 1963 (Dalloz, 1963), 545.

In our view, there is no legal impediment to enforceability of Arbitration Agreement, pending payment of stamp duty on the substantive contract. Since, Arbitration Agreement is an independent agreement between parties and is not chargeable to payment of stamp duty, non-payment of stamp duty on commercial contract would not invalidate Arbitration Clause or render it un-enforceable. It has an independent existence of its own.

Refer, Paragraphs 22 and 29 of Garware Wall Ropes Limited v. Coastal Marine Constructions & Engineering Limited, (2019) 9 SCC 209 affirmed in Paragraph 92 of Vidya Drolia v. Durga Trading Corporation, Civil Appeal No. 2402 of 2019, to Constitution Bench of Five Judges.

– Hon’ble Justice Indu Malhotra, M/s. N.N. Global Mercantile Pvt. Ltd. v. M/s. Indo Unique Flame Ltd., [Civil Appeal Nos. 3802-3803 of 2020].

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Vidya Drolia has now read ‘prima facie test’ into Section 11(6A) so as to bring provisions of Sections 8(1) and 11(6) r/w 11(6A) on par. Section 11(7) and Section 37 have not been amended. An anomaly thus arises. Whereas in cases decided under Section 8 a refusal to refer parties to Arbitration is appealable under Section 37(1)(a), a similar refusal to refer parties to Arbitration under Section 11(6) read with Sections 6(A) and 7 is not appealable. In light of what has been decided in Vidya Drolia, Parliament may need to have a re-look at Section 11(7) and Section 37 so that orders made under Sections 8 and 11 are brought on par qua appealability as well.

– Hon’ble Justice R.F. Nariman, Pravin Electricals Pvt. Ltd. v. Galaxy Infra & Engineering Private Limited, [Civil Appeal No. 825 of 2021] decided on 08.03.2021.

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Pravin Electricals Pvt. Ltd., 2021 SCC OnLine SC 190 referred in detail to Vidya Drolia.

– Hon’ble Justice R.F. Nariman, Sanjiv Prakash v. Seema Kukreja, [Civil Appeal No. 975 of 2021] decided on 06.04.2021.

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If it was a question of complete non-stamping, then Court might have had an occasion to examine concern raised in N. N. Global. However, this case is not one such scenario.

– Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, Hon’ble Justice N.V. Ramana, Intercontinental Hotels Group (India) Pvt. Ltd. v. Waterline Hotels Pvt. Ltd., [Arbitration Petition (Civil) No. 12 of 2019] decided 25.01.2022.

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As held by this Court in N.N. Global, there is no legal impediment to enforceability of Arbitration Agreement, pending payment of stamp duty on the substantive contract. Of course, said issue is pending consideration by a Constitution Bench. Nonetheless as observed by this Court in Intercontinental Hotels Group (India) Pvt. Ltd., matters at a pre-appointment stage cannot be left hanging.  

– Hon’ble Justice Bela M. Trivedi, Weatherford Oil Tool Middle East Limited v. Baker Hughes Singapore PTE, [Arbitration Petition No. 3 of 2022] decided on 20.10.2022.

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Weatherford Oil Tool Middle East Ltd. v. Baker Hughes Singapore PTE, 2022 SCC OnLine SC 1464 observed, an Arbitration Clause in a contract would be independent and Arbitrator is empowered to decide upon its existence and validity.

– Hon’ble Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, Sushma Shivkumar Daga v. Madhurkumar Ramkrishnaji Baja, [Civil Appeal No. 1854 of 2023] decided on 15.12.2023.