Disposed

M.V. Omni Projects (India) Ltd. v. Union of India Throgh Dy. Chief Engg., Northern Railway

Delhi HC7 Oct 2024O.M.P. (COMM)/223/2022

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Multiple petitions challenging inconsistent arbitral awards arising from identical railway contracts, where tribunals were constituted under Clause 64 of the General Conditions of Contract, a procedure found legally impermissible by this Court. With counsel's joint agreement, the Court set aside all impugned awards and directed parties to constitute a fresh common arbitral tribunal by mutual conse

What did the court decide?

Impugned arbitral awards set aside; parties at liberty to constitute a fresh tribunal by mutual consent or take legal recourse if difficulty arises.

M.V. Omni Projects (India) Ltd. Vs Union of India Throgh Dy. Chief… — Arbitration | Delhi HC (2024)

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$~23 to 31

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + O.M.P. (COMM) 365/2021 (23) M/S MV OMNI PROJECTS (INDIA) LTD. .....Petitioner Through: versus UNION OF INDIA THROUGH DY. CHIEF ENGG., NORTHERN RAILWAY. .....Respondent

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Through:

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O.M.P. (COMM) 388/2021 and IA Nos.17498/2021, 17499/2021, 17500/2021, 17501/2021, 9672/2022 (24) UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner

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Through: versus M V OMNI PROJECTS INDIA LTD .....Respondent Through: + O.M.P. (COMM) 107/2022 and IA No.17401/2023 (25) UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner Through: versus M.V OMNI PROJECTS INDIA LTD .....Respondent Through: + O.M.P. (COMM) 223/2022 and IA No.7359/2022 (26) M.V. OMNI PROJECTS (INDIA) LTD. .....Petitioner Through: versus UNION OF INDIA THROGH DY. CHIEF ENGG., NORTHERN RAILWAY .....Respondent Through: + O.M.P. (COMM) 327/2022 (27) M/S. M.V. OMNI PROJECTS (INDIA) LTD. .....Petitioner Through: versus

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This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 03/07/2025 at 03:32:27

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UNION OF INDIA, THROUGH DY. CHIEF ENGINEER, NORTHERN RAILWAY .....Respondent

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Through:

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O.M.P. (COMM) 384/2022 and IA No.14857/2022 (28) UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner Through: versus M V OMNI PROJECTS INDIA LTD .....Respondent Through: + O.M.P. (COMM) 58/2022 (29) UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner Through: versus MV OMNI PROJECT (INDIA) LTD .....Respondent Through: + O.M.P. (COMM) 89/2022 and IA No.10016/2023 (30) MV OMNI PROJECTS (INDIA) LTD. .....Petitioner Through: versus UNION OF INDIA THROUGH DY. CHIEF ENGG NORTHERN RAILWAY .....Respondent Through: + O.M.P. (COMM) 145/2023 (31) M/S. M.V. OMNI PROJECTS (INDIA) LTD. .....Petitioner Through: versus UNION OF INDIA, THROUGH DY. CHIEF ENGINEER

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.....Respondent Through:

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Presence :

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Mr. Subodh Kumar Pathak and Mr. Akash Swami, Advs. for M/S. M.V. OMNI Projects (India) Ltd.

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Mr. Subhash Tanwar, CGSC along with Mr. Sandeep Mishra and Mr. Naveen, Advs. for petitioner/UOI.

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This is a digitally signed order.

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The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 03/07/2025 at 03:32:27

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Mr. Mukul Singh, CGSC along with Ms. Ira Singh and Mr. Utsav, Advs. for petitioner in Item No.25 and for respondent in Item No.30.

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CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN DATTA

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O R D E R % 07.10.2024

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Vide order dated 23.08.2024, it was noticed that the impugned arbitral awards in these matters have been rendered by tribunals constituted under Clause – 64 of the General Conditions of Contract of the Railways.

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The appointment procedure contemplated under Clause – 64 has been found by this Court to be not a valid/ legally impermissible procedure in various proceedings.

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Further, respective counsel for the parties are in agreement that although the awards arise out of identical contracts, the tribunals were differently constituted and the awards are also inconsistent with each other in certain aspects. The claims which have been decided in favour of the contractor in one award have been decided against it in certain other awards in identical contracts. Further, the contractual interpretations in each of the award are at variance with each other.

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After some hearing, respective counsel for the parties are in agreement that :

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i) the impugned arbitral awards be set aside and the parties be relegated to arbitration afresh;

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ii) an arbitral tribunal be constituted for a comprehensive adjudication of the disputes between the parties under the contracts in question, without being influenced by the impugned awards.

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iii) the parties shall endeavor to appoint a common arbitral tribunal for

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these contracts, with mutual consent ;

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iv) although a common tribunal shall be constituted, the reference under each contract be independent of each other.

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Consequently, as jointly prayed for by respective counsel for both the parties, the impugned arbitral awards are set aside.

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The parties may endeavour to constitute a fresh arbitral tribunal, by mutual consent, in terms of the aforesaid understanding/ agreement. Needless to say, if there is any difficulty in this regard, parties shall be at liberty to take recourse to appropriate legal proceedings.

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The present petitions are disposed of in the aforesaid terms.

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SACHIN DATTA, J

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OCTOBER 7, 2024/ cl

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This is a digitally signed order.

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The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 03/07/2025 at 03:32:27

M.V. Omni Projects (India) Ltd. v. Union of India Throgh Dy. Chief Engg., Northern Railway

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

M.V. Omni Projects (India) Ltd. v. Union of India Throgh Dy. Chief Engg., Northern Railway

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

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