The Delhi High Court has held that a company is not required to pay the stamp duty on the increased amount of its authorised share capital.

A bench headed by Justice S Muralidhar said this while allowing the plea of S E Investments Ltd, which challenged the direction of the Registrar of Companies (ROC) seeking stamp duty on increased amount in authorised share capital.

"In the absence of a specific provision that permits the levy of stamp duty on the increase in authorised share capital, it would not be open to the Respondents (ROC) to insist upon the S E Investments having to pay stamp duty for the increased authorised share capital," the court said.

The court, however, made it clear that the company would not be entitled to refund of the amount which it had already paid as stamp duty. (PTI)