Blue Dart Express Ltd. vs Om Entercom

This Application has been filed under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 ( “the Act” ), seeking appointment of an arbitrator in connection with disputes and differences that are said to have arisen between the parties under a Contract dated February 9, 2022 ( “Agreement” ). The arbitration agreement is contained in Clauses 21 and 22 of the Agreement (found at Page No. 40 of the Application). In the interest of brevity, the arbitration agreement is not being extracted here. Suffice it to say that this matter falls within the jurisdiction of this Court.

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It is seen from the record that defaults occurred under the Agreement and the arbitration agreement was invoked by Applicant on November 23,2022. Learned Counsel for the Applicant submits that the amount due under the Agreement, as claimed by the Applicant from the Respondents is to the tune of Rs. 1,05,38,503/-.

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Digitally signed by AARTI AARTIGAJANANPALKAR GAJANANPALKARDate:2025.03.01 17:25:16 +0530

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Aarti Palkar

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22.CARAP.13.2024.doc

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Learned Counsel for the Applicant has tendered an affidavit of service, and the same is taken on record. It shows that Application has been served on the Respondent but the Respondent has not entered appearance.

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Learned Counsel for the Applicant submits that there is an evident default, and despite issuance of an invocation notice there is no response from the Respondent.

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The scope of review under Section 11 is explicitly set out in Section 11(6A) of the Act. It is now trite law, with particular regard to the decisions of a seven-judge bench in the Interplay Judgement¹ followed by multiple others, including SBI General² and Patel³ that the Section 11 Court ought not to venture beyond examining the existence of a validly existing arbitration agreement that has been formally executed. Even questions of existential substance is a matter that falls squarely in the domain of the arbitral tribunal, in view of Section 16 of the Act.

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Being satisfied that an arbitration agreement is validly in existence, and that arbitration has been duly invoked, it is in the fitness of things to refer the disputes and differences between the parties in connection with the aforesaid Agreement dated April 9, 2021 to arbitration by a Sole Arbitrator.

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In these circumstances, this Section 11 Application is finally disposedof , in terms of the following order:

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[A] Ms. Aarti Sathe, a learned advocate of this Court, is hereby

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1 In Re: Interplay Between Arbitration Agreements Under Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 & Stamp Act, 1899 – (2024) 6 SCC 1

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2 SBI General Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Krish Spinning – 2024 SCC OnLine SC 1754

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3 Ajay Madhusudan Patel v. Jyotrindra S. Patel – 2024 SCC OnLine SC 2597

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appointed as the Sole Arbitrator to adjudicate upon the disputes and differences between the parties arising out of and in connection with the Agreement referred to above;

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B] A copy of this Order will be communicated to the Learned Sole Arbitrator by the Advocates for the Applicant within a period of one week from today. The Applicant shall provide the contact and communication particulars of the parties to the Arbitral Tribunal along with a copy of this Order;

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C] The Learned Sole Arbitrator is requested to forward the statutory Statement of Disclosure under Section 11(8) read with Section 12(1) of the Act to the Advocates for the Applicant so as to enable them to file the same in the Registry of this Court. The Registry of this Court shall retain the said Statement on the file of this Application and a copy of the same shall be furnished by the Advocates for the Applicant to the Respondents;

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D] The parties shall appear before the Learned Sole Arbitrator on such date and at such place as indicated, to obtain appropriate directions with regard to conduct of the arbitration including fixing a schedule for pleadings, examination of witnesses, if any, schedule of hearings etc. At such meeting, the parties shall provide a valid and functional email address along with mobile and landline numbers of the respective Advocates of the parties to the Arbitral Tribunal. Communications to such email addresses shall constitute valid service of correspondence in connection with the arbitration and;

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E] All arbitral costs and fees of the Arbitral Tribunal shall be borne by the parties equally in the first instance, and shall be

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subject to any final Award that may be passed by the Tribunal in relation to costs.

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Needless to say, nothing contained in this order is an expression of an opinion on merits of the matter or the relative strength of the parties. All issues on merits are expressly kept open to be agitated before the arbitral tribunal appointed hereby.

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All actions required to be taken pursuant to this order shall be taken upon receipt of a downloaded copy as available on this Court’s website.

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[ SOMASEKHAR SUNDARESAN, J.]

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Aarti Palkar

Blue Dart Express Ltd. v. Om Entercom

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Blue Dart Express Ltd. v. Om Entercom

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