#Enforcement of Awards

Without the requisite stamp duty, an arbitral award cannot be treated as a valid instrument for execution. The Delhi High Court also stayed any enforcement while a Section 34 challenge remains pending, leaving the award ineffective until the petition is finally decided. This restricts award holders and creditors from pursuing recovery until both stamp duty is paid and the petition is resolved.

The Bombay High Court has ruled that a trade union’s right to recover amounts under Section 50 of the MRTU & PULP Act is contingent on explicit written authorization from each affected employee - regardless of prior settlement terms. This sets a critical precedent protecting individual worker autonomy against collective enforcement, impacting all unions seeking mandatory deductions under statutory awards.

Meghalaya High Court rules that contempt proceedings under Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act are maintainable for arbitral order violations even without a formal tribunal reference, provided the aggrieved party files a petition and the tribunal acknowledges the breach. This expands enforcement avenues for parties in arbitration disputes where tribunals lack contempt powers.