Rbl Bank Limited vs Ambika Prasad Morarka — Arbitration | Bombay HC (2026)

Rbl Bank Limited vs Ambika Prasad Morarka — Arbitration | Bombay HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Respective arbitral awards set aside; Commercial Execution Applications / Execution Applications and connected Interim Applications and Chamber Summons (if any) dismissed / disposed; parties permitted to initiate fresh arbitration with exclusion from limitation of the period from invocation of arbitration till the order date; liberty to apply where an express written waiver under the proviso to Section 12(5) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 exists.

Issue for consideration

Whether, in view of the Supreme Court's decision in Bhadra International (unilateral appointment of arbitrator is void ab initio and ineligibility can be raised even in execution), arbitral awards founded on a unilaterally appointed sole arbitrator and sought to be executed in these matters can stand.

Court's answer

Since in all these matters the appointment of the sole arbitrator was found to be unilateral, the respective arbitral awards stand set aside and the Commercial Execution Applications / Execution Applications, and the connected Interim Applications as well as any Chamber Summons, stand dismissed / disposed.

Ratio / Principle

It is open to the parties to initiate fresh arbitration proceedings in accordance with law.

Key takeaways

For limitation purposes, in initiating fresh arbitration proceedings the period from the invocation of the arbitration till the date of this order is to be excluded.ratio¶21
Liberty to apply is granted in the event there exists an express agreement in writing in terms of the proviso to Section 12(5) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 waiving the ineligibility of the sole arbitrator or the right to object under Section 12(5).ratio¶22

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bombay High Court (Abhay Ahuja, J., 7 May 2026) batch-disposed numerous Commercial Execution Applications / Execution Applications (Cause List Serial Nos. 903 to 1091, various). Acting on the finding of the office of the Prothonotary & Senior Master that in all these matters the sole arbitrator's appointment was unilateral, and on the Supreme Court's decision in Bhadra International (India) Pvt. Ltd. and Others vs. Airports Authority of India, 2026 SCC Online SC 7, that unilateral appointment of an arbitrator is void ab initio and ineligibility can be raised at any stage and even in execution, the Court set aside the respective arbitral awards and dismissed / disposed the execution applications together with connected Interim Applications and Chamber Summons. Parties were left free to initiate fresh arbitration; the period from invocation of arbitration till the order date was ordered excluded for limitation; and liberty to apply was granted where an express agreement in writing under the proviso to Section 12(5) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 waives the sole arbitrator's ineligibility or the right to object under Section 12(5).

903 to 1091.doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION

SERIAL NOS.903, 904, 906 to 908, 910, 911, 913, 914, 923, 924, 931 932, 939 TO 941, 943, 944, 946, 951 TO 965, 969 TO 971, 973 TO 986, 991 TO 993, 999 TO 1002, 1004 TO 1009, 1013 TO 1022, 1024 TO 1065 AND 1069 TO 1091

Ms.Bijal Gogri i/b O. M. Gujar Law Chambers for the Applicant in Sr.Nos. 904,959,974,977,978,980 to 986, 991 to 993, 999, 1001, 1002, 1004, 1005, 1009, 1028 to 1031, 1034, 1035, 1038, 1040 to 1054. 1066, 1068, 1085 to 1089.

Ms. Bijal Gogri i/b GNP Legal for the Applicant in Sr. Nos. 976, 979, 1013 and 1066.

Ms. Simran J. Raj i/b Tikshta Modi for the Applicant in Sr. No. 969, 973 and 975 and 54.

Mr. Suraj Gupta i/b SG Legal & Associates for the Appliant in Sr. No. 1091.

Ms. Reet Jain i/b S. I. Joshi & Co. for the Applicant in Sr. No. 905, 964, 965, 1000, 1090 and 35.

CORAM : ABHAY AHUJA, J. DATE : 7^th MAY, 2026

PC:-

All these matters have been listed in view of the decision of the

Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Bhadra International (India) Pvt.

Ltd. and Others vs. Airports Authority of India¹ where the Hon'ble Supreme Court has observed that unilateral appointment of arbitrator

is void ab initio and the ineligibility can be raised at any stage and even

in execution.

1 2026 SCC Online SC 7

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903 to 1091.doc

Since in all these matters it has been found by the office of the Prothonotary & Senior Master of this Court that the appointment of the sole arbitrator has been unilateral, in view of the above decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, the respective arbitral awards stand set aside and the Commercial Execution Applications / Execution Applications, and the connected Interim Applications as well as the Chamber Summons, if any, accordingly stand dismissed / disposed.

It would be open to the parties to initiate fresh arbitration proceedings in accordance with law.

As far as limitation is concerned, the period from the invocation of the arbitration till today be excluded in initiating fresh arbitration proceedings.

Liberty to apply in the event there exists an express agreement in writing in terms of proviso to Section 12(5) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (the “said Act”) waiving the ineligibility of the sole arbitrator or the right to object under Section 12(5) of the said Act.

Digitally signed by NIKITA NIKITA YOGESH YOGESH GADGIL GADGIL Date: 2026.05.11 15:50:45 +0530

(ABHAY AHUJA, J.)

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