3018 of 2026, decided 14 July 2026), the Division Bench of Hon’ble Bombay High Court considered an IBC liquidation auction sale certificate. Critically, the Court concluded that the registering authority cannot insist upon stamp duty merely for filing the sale certificate under Section 89(4). Accordingly, an obligation to pay stamp duty can only crystallise when the instrument is used for a purpose requiring stamp duty. Stamp Duty Arises Only Upon Purchaser’s Presentation for Registration – Stamp duty is the purchaser’s obligation and arises only when the purchaser presents the original certificate for registration or uses it for another purpose requiring stamp duty. Authorised officers should note that stamp duty cannot be made a condition precedent to issuance of the sale certificate.