Boxco Logistics India Private Limited v. Sarr Freight Corporation
Case brief
What is this about?
Substitution of Sole Arbitrator — Bombay High Court, COMM. ARBITRATION PETITION NO. 300 OF 2024 (CARBP 300/2024), Somasekhar Sundaresan, J., February 5, 2025. Boxco Logistics India Private Limited v. Sarr Freight Corporation. Incumbent arbitrator (appointed under Section 11, Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, by order dated October 1, 2020) unable to act; respondent held to have forfeited right to nominate arbitrator owing to earlier Section 11 recourse; Mr. Ajai Fernandes appointed Sole Arbitrator; Section 11(8) read with Section 12(1) disclosure directed; email communications held valid service; arbitral costs and fees to be borne equally in first instance, subject to final award on costs.
What did the court decide?
Application finally disposed of by appointing Mr. Ajai Fernandes as Sole Arbitrator, with directions for statutory disclosure under Section 11(8) read with Section 12(1), first appearance before the arbitrator, validity of email service, and equal interim bearing of arbitral costs and fees.