Ald Automotive Private Limited (Ald) v. Sridhar R. Chidumalla
Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 – Section 11 / Section 11(6A) – Appointment of arbitrator
Case brief
What is this about?
Bombay High Court, OOJ (Ordinary Original Civil Jurisdiction), Somasekhar Sundaresan J., 8 January 2025 — ALD Automotive Private Limited v. Sridhar R. Chidumalla, Arbitration Application No. 188 of 2024 (with Chamber Order (L.) No. 16901 of 2024) under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996: respondent's financial incapacity held not to be a ground to refuse reference (mandate of Section 11, especially Section 11(6A)); disputes under Master Lease Agreement dated 18-02-2019 (arbitration Clause 18) referred to Sole Arbitrator Mr. Akshay Doctor; seat and venue Mumbai; online proceedings permitted; costs borne equally in first instance; application allowed and disposed of. No precedents cited; no quantum involved.
What did the court decide?
Application allowed and finally disposed of: disputes and differences arising from the Master Lease Agreement dated February 18, 2019 referred to a Learned Sole Arbitrator (Mr. Akshay Doctor appointed); copy of the Order to be communicated to the arbitrator within one week; statutory Statement of Disclosure under Section 11(8) read with Section 12(1) to be filed in the Registry; parties to appear before the arbitrator for directions; arbitral costs and fees of the Tribunal to be borne equally in the first instance, subject to any final Award on costs; venue and seat of arbitration at Mumbai, with liberty to conduct proceedings online.