Delhi HC Sets Aside SpiceJet Award
AVIATION & AIRPORTS

Delhi HC Sets Aside SpiceJet Award

The Delhi High Court has overturned a previous order that upheld an arbitral award in favour of Kalanithi Maran and Kal Airways against SpiceJet. The dispute originates from January 2015, when Maran transferred his 58.46% stake in SpiceJet to Ajay Singh for Rs 2, taking on a Rs 1,500 crore debt liability.

The arbitration tribunal had ruled in July 2018 that Maran and Kal Airways were owed Rs 579 crore plus interest from SpiceJet for non-issuance of warrants and preference shares. SpiceJet challenged this decision, leading to the High Court's recent ruling. The court found that the tribunal's award did not meet the necessary legal standards to be upheld. This legal battle highlights the complexities of corporate transactions and the stringent scrutiny of arbitral awards in Indian courts.

Maran, the promoter of Sun Network, had initially approached the Delhi High Court in 2017, alleging that SpiceJet failed to honour the terms of the agreement made during the stake transfer. The agreement stipulated that SpiceJet would issue convertible warrants and preference shares worth Rs 679 crore, which Maran claimed were never issued.

In response, SpiceJet contested the arbitral award, arguing that it was not illegal or against public policy. The recent decision by the Delhi High Court to set aside the award indicates that the evidence presented by Maran and Kal Airways was insufficient to justify the award.

This case underscores the importance of thorough documentation and adherence to agreements in corporate transactions. It also illustrates the judiciary's role in ensuring that arbitral awards comply with legal and policy standards before enforcement.

The Delhi High Court has overturned a previous order that upheld an arbitral award in favour of Kalanithi Maran and Kal Airways against SpiceJet. The dispute originates from January 2015, when Maran transferred his 58.46% stake in SpiceJet to Ajay Singh for Rs 2, taking on a Rs 1,500 crore debt liability. The arbitration tribunal had ruled in July 2018 that Maran and Kal Airways were owed Rs 579 crore plus interest from SpiceJet for non-issuance of warrants and preference shares. SpiceJet challenged this decision, leading to the High Court's recent ruling. The court found that the tribunal's award did not meet the necessary legal standards to be upheld. This legal battle highlights the complexities of corporate transactions and the stringent scrutiny of arbitral awards in Indian courts. Maran, the promoter of Sun Network, had initially approached the Delhi High Court in 2017, alleging that SpiceJet failed to honour the terms of the agreement made during the stake transfer. The agreement stipulated that SpiceJet would issue convertible warrants and preference shares worth Rs 679 crore, which Maran claimed were never issued. In response, SpiceJet contested the arbitral award, arguing that it was not illegal or against public policy. The recent decision by the Delhi High Court to set aside the award indicates that the evidence presented by Maran and Kal Airways was insufficient to justify the award. This case underscores the importance of thorough documentation and adherence to agreements in corporate transactions. It also illustrates the judiciary's role in ensuring that arbitral awards comply with legal and policy standards before enforcement.

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Centre suggests states to list power firms

Power Minister Manohar Lal urged states and union territories to consider listing their power generation, transmission, and distribution companies on stock exchanges to attract investment and improve operational efficiency. Addressing the media, after a conference of power ministers, Lal highlighted the need for increased capital inflows to meet India’s rising power demand, which has placed added strain on the sector. “With the growing power demand, there is a growing need for investment in the sector and improving operational efficiencies. States may identify and take up utilities for lis..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Metro on backburner as Tricity set to get new e-buses circuit

To boost connectivity for the commuters of the Tricity, a new circuit-cum-network of electric buses (e-buses) is all set to come up that will cover Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Mohali. The move comes days after Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar said that in Chandigarh the ridership is not according to the criteria set for operating a Metro. He had also said that the option of a pod taxi can also be explored as it will not impact the heritage of the Union Territory (UT).Officials stated that the e-buses decision intends to provide an eco-friendly public transportati..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Rajasthan government plans to develop hi-tech city near Jaipur

On the lines of Gujarat International Finance Tech (GIFT) City and Hyderabad Information Technology and Engineering Consultancy (HITEC) City, Raj govt is gearing up to develop a "hi-tech city" close to Jaipur. Recently, Boston Consulting Group – a multinational consulting firm – gave a presentation on the concept of hi-tech cities, follwing which the state govt has started looking for suitable land on outskirts of Jaipur. "We are going to construct a hi-tech city on the outskirts of Jaipur. We are trying to ascertain the amount of land required for core areas of the city and for areas wh..

Hi There!

"Now get regular updates from CW Magazine on WhatsApp!

Join the CW WhatsApp channel for the latest news, industry events, expert insights, and project updates from the construction and infrastructure industry.

Click the link below to join"

+91 81086 03000