US Supreme Court Allows Devas to Pursue $1.29 Billion Lawsuit Against ISRO's Antrix

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Mauritius-based CC/Devas and India-based Devas Multimedia can proceed with their $1.29 billion arbitral award enforcement case against Antrix Corporation in U.S. courts.

The Court held that foreign state-owned entities like Antrix do not require “minimum contacts” under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) for such cases.

This overturns a 2023 Ninth Circuit decision that dismissed the case on jurisdictional grounds. The dispute originates from a 2005 satellite-leasing agreement, which Antrix terminated in 2011, leading to an arbitral award in favor of Devas.  

While Indian courts have set aside the award citing fraud, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision enables Devas to pursue enforcement of the judgment in the U.S.