M/S R.K. Associates and Hoteliers Pvt. Ltd. Vs Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (Irctc) & Ors.

$~10 to 16 and 20 to 26

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

- ARB.P. 631/2025

BRANDAVAN FOOD PRODUCTS .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Sudhir Nandrajog and Mr. Sandeep Sethi, Senior Advocates with Mr.Rajat Aneja, Mr.Jasmeet Singh, Ms. Ritwika Nanda, Mr. Saif Ali, Mr. Pushpendra S. Bhadoria, Mr. Vijay Sharma, Mr. Sharad Yadav, Mr. Pranav Menon, Mr. Saurav, Ms. Gunjan Yadav and Mr. Aditya Sharma, Advocates.

¶5

versus

¶6

INDIAN RAILWAY CATERING AND TOURISM CORPORATION LIMITED (IRCTC) & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Tushar Mehta, SGI with Mr. Saurav Agrawal, Mr. Anshuman Chowdhury, Ms. Prachi Dubey, Mr.Aarya Bhat and Mr. Shivam Chaudhary, Advocates for IRCTC. Mr. Abdhesh Chaudhary, CGSC with Ms. Geetanjali Setia, Advocates for UOI.

¶7

11

¶8

- ARB.P. 632/2025

¶9

BRANDAVAN FOOD PRODUCTS .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Sudhir Nandrajog and Mr. Sandeep Sethi, Senior Advocates with Mr.Rajat Aneja, Mr.Jasmeet Singh, Ms. Ritwika Nanda, Mr. Saif Ali, Mr. Pushpendra S. Bhadoria, Mr. Vijay Sharma, Mr. Sharad Yadav, Mr. Pranav Menon, Mr. Saurav, Ms. Gunjan Yadav and Mr. Aditya Sharma, Advocates.

¶10

versus

¶11

INDIAN RAILWAY CATERING AND TOURISM CORPORATION LIMITED (IRCTC) & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Tushar Mehta, SGI with Mr. Saurav Agrawal, Mr. Anshuman Chowdhury, Ms.

¶12

ARB.P. 631/2025 & connected matters Page 1 of 11

¶13

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 25/04/2025 at 17:26:48

¶14

Prachi Dubey, Mr.Aarya Bhat and Mr. Shivam Chaudhary, Advocates for IRCTC. Mr. Abdhesh Chaudhary, CGSC with Ms. Geetanjali Setia, Advocates for UOI.

¶15

12

¶16

- ARB.P. 633/2025

¶17

BRANDAVAN FOOD PRODUCTS .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Sudhir Nandrajog and Mr. Sandeep Sethi, Senior Advocates with Mr.Rajat Aneja, Mr.Jasmeet Singh, Ms. Ritwika Nanda, Mr. Saif Ali, Mr. Pushpendra S. Bhadoria, Mr. Vijay Sharma, Mr. Sharad Yadav, Mr. Pranav Menon, Mr. Saurav, Ms. Gunjan Yadav and Mr. Aditya Sharma, Advocates.

¶18

versus

¶19

INDIAN RAILWAY CATERING AND TOURISM CORPORATION LIMITED (IRCTC) & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Tushar Mehta, SGI with Mr. Saurav Agrawal, Mr. Anshuman Chowdhury, Ms. Prachi Dubey, Mr.Aarya Bhat and Mr. Shivam Chaudhary, Advocates for IRCTC. Mr. Abdhesh Chaudhary, CGSC with Ms. Geetanjali Setia, Advocates for UOI.

¶20

13

¶21

- ARB.P. 634/2025

¶22

R.K. ASSOCIATES AND HOTELIERS PVT. LTD......Petitioner Through: Mr. Sudhir Nandrajog and Mr. Sandeep Sethi, Senior Advocates with Mr.Rajat Aneja, Mr.Jasmeet Singh, Ms. Ritwika Nanda, Mr. Saif Ali, Mr. Pushpendra S. Bhadoria, Mr. Vijay Sharma, Mr. Sharad Yadav, Mr. Pranav Menon, Mr. Saurav, Ms. Gunjan Yadav and Mr. Aditya Sharma, Advocates.

¶23

ARB.P. 631/2025 & connected matters Page 2 of 11

¶24

This is a digitally signed order.

¶25

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 25/04/2025 at 17:26:48

¶26

versus

¶27

INDIAN RAILWAY CATERING AND TOURISM CORPORATION LIMITED (IRCTC) & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Tushar Mehta, SGI with Mr. Saurav Agrawal, Mr. Anshuman Chowdhury, Ms. Prachi Dubey, Mr.Aarya Bhat and Mr. Shivam Chaudhary, Advocates for IRCTC. Mr. Bhagwan Swarup Shukla, CGSC with Mr. Sarvan Kumar, Advocates for UOI.

¶28

14

¶29

- ARB.P. 635/2025

¶30

R.K. ASSOCIATES AND HOTELIERS PVT. LTD......Petitioner Through: Mr. Sudhir Nandrajog and Mr. Sandeep Sethi, Senior Advocates with Mr.Rajat Aneja, Mr.Jasmeet Singh, Ms. Ritwika Nanda, Mr. Saif Ali, Mr. Pushpendra S. Bhadoria, Mr. Vijay Sharma, Mr. Sharad Yadav, Mr. Pranav Menon, Mr. Saurav, Ms. Gunjan Yadav and Mr. Aditya Sharma, Advocates.

¶31

versus

¶32

INDIAN RAILWAY CATERING AND TOURISM CORPORATION LIMITED (IRCTC) & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Tushar Mehta, SGI with Mr. Saurav Agrawal, Mr. Anshuman Chowdhury, Ms. Prachi Dubey, Mr.Aarya Bhat and Mr. Shivam Chaudhary, Advocates for IRCTC. Mr. Bhagwan Swarup Shukla, CGSC with Mr. Sarvan Kumar, Advocates for UOI.

¶33

15

¶34

- ARB.P. 636/2025

¶35

M/S ROOP CATERERS .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Sudhir Nandrajog and Mr. Sandeep Sethi, Senior Advocates with Mr.Rajat

¶36

ARB.P. 631/2025 & connected matters Page 3 of 11

¶37

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 25/04/2025 at 17:26:48

¶38

Aneja, Mr.Jasmeet Singh, Ms. Ritwika Nanda, Mr. Saif Ali, Mr. Pushpendra S. Bhadoria, Mr. Vijay Sharma, Mr. Sharad Yadav, Mr. Pranav Menon, Mr. Saurav, Ms. Gunjan Yadav and Mr. Aditya Sharma, Advocates.

¶39

versus

¶40

INDIAN RAILWAY CATERING AND TOURISM CORPORATION LIMITED (IRCTC) & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Tushar Mehta, SGI with Mr. Saurav Agrawal, Mr. Anshuman Chowdhury, Ms. Prachi Dubey, Mr.Aarya Bhat and Mr. Shivam Chaudhary, Advocates for IRCTC. Mr. Avnish Singh, SPC with Mr. Anant Yadav and Mr. Kapil Dev Yadav, Advocates for UOI. Mr. Jaswinder Singh, Advocate for R-2.

¶41

16

¶42

ARB.P. 637/2025

¶43

M/S SATYAM CATERERS PVT. LTD. .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Sudhir Nandrajog and Mr. Sandeep Sethi, Senior Advocates with Mr.Rajat Aneja, Mr.Jasmeet Singh, Ms. Ritwika Nanda, Mr. Saif Ali, Mr. Pushpendra S. Bhadoria, Mr. Vijay Sharma, Mr. Sharad Yadav, Mr. Pranav Menon, Mr. Saurav, Ms. Gunjan Yadav and Mr. Aditya Sharma, Advocates.

¶44

versus

¶45

INDIAN RAILWAY CATERING AND TOURISM CORPORATION LIMITED (IRCTC) & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Tushar Mehta, SGI with Mr. Saurav Agrawal, Mr. Anshuman Chowdhury, Ms. Prachi Dubey, Mr.Aarya Bhat and Mr. Shivam Chaudhary, Advocates for IRCTC. Ms. Anubha Bhardwaj, CGSC with Ms. Prabisha

¶46

ARB.P. 631/2025 & connected matters Page 4 of 11

¶47

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 25/04/2025 at 17:26:48

¶48

Pradeep and Ms. Mehak Arora, Advocate for UOI.

¶49

20

¶50

- O.M.P.(I) (COMM.) 377/2023

¶51

BRANDAVAN FOOD PRODUCTS .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Sudhir Nandrajog and Mr. Sandeep Sethi, Senior Advocates with Mr.Rajat Aneja, Mr.Jasmeet Singh, Ms. Ritwika Nanda, Mr. Saif Ali, Mr. Pushpendra S. Bhadoria, Mr. Vijay Sharma, Mr. Sharad Yadav, Mr. Pranav Menon, Mr. Saurav, Ms. Gunjan Yadav and Mr. Aditya Sharma, Advocates.

¶52

versus

¶53

INDIAN RAILWAY CATERING AND TOURISM

¶54

CORPORATION LIMITED (IRCTC) & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Tushar Mehta, SGI with Mr. Saurav Agrawal, Mr. Anshuman Chowdhury, Ms. Prachi Dubey, Mr.Aarya Bhat and Mr. Shivam Chaudhary, Advocates for IRCTC. Mr. Sandeep Kumar Mahapatra, CGSC with Mr. Tribhuvan, Mr. Shubham Saini, Ms. Rubanshi Chawla, Mohd. Aakib, Mr. Ashish Shukla and Ms. Jivisha, Advocates for R-2.

¶55

21

¶56

- O.M.P.(I) (COMM.) 378/2023

¶57

BRANDAVAN FOOD PRODUCTS .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Sudhir Nandrajog and Mr. Sandeep Sethi, Senior Advocates with Mr.Rajat Aneja, Mr.Jasmeet Singh, Ms. Ritwika Nanda, Mr. Saif Ali, Mr. Pushpendra S. Bhadoria, Mr. Vijay Sharma, Mr. Sharad Yadav, Mr. Pranav Menon, Mr. Saurav, Ms. Gunjan Yadav and Mr. Aditya Sharma, Advocates.

¶58

versus

¶59

ARB.P. 631/2025 & connected matters Page 5 of 11

¶60

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 25/04/2025 at 17:26:48

¶61

INDIAN RAILWAY CATERING AND TOURISM CORPORATION LIMITED (IRCTC) & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Tushar Mehta, SGI with Mr. Saurav Agrawal, Mr. Anshuman Chowdhury, Ms. Prachi Dubey, Mr.Aarya Bhat and Mr. Shivam Chaudhary, Advocates for IRCTC.

¶62

Mr. Sandeep Kumar Mahapatra, CGSC with Mr. Tribhuvan, Mr. Shubham Saini, Ms. Rubanshi Chawla, Mohd. Aakib, Mr. Ashish Shukla and Ms. Jivisha, Advocates for R-2.

¶63

22

¶64

O.M.P.(I) (COMM.) 379/2023

¶65

M/S SATYAM CATERERS PVT. LTD. .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Sudhir Nandrajog and Mr. Sandeep Sethi, Senior Advocates with Mr.Rajat Aneja, Mr.Jasmeet Singh, Ms. Ritwika Nanda, Mr. Saif Ali, Mr. Pushpendra S. Bhadoria, Mr. Vijay Sharma, Mr. Sharad Yadav, Mr. Pranav Menon, Mr. Saurav, Ms. Gunjan Yadav and Mr. Aditya Sharma, Advocates.

¶66

versus

¶67

INDIAN RAILWAY CATERING AND TOURISM CORPORATION LIMITED (IRCTC) & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Tushar Mehta, SGI with Mr. Saurav Agrawal, Mr. Anshuman Chowdhury, Ms. Prachi Dubey, Mr.Aarya Bhat and Mr. Shivam Chaudhary, Advocates for IRCTC.

¶68

Ms. Avshreya Pratap Singh Rudy, Senior Panel Counsel with Ms.Usha Jamnal and Ms. Harshita Chaturvedi, Advocates for UOI.

¶69

23

¶70

O.M.P.(I) (COMM.) 380/2023

¶71

M/S ROOP CATERERS .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Sudhir Nandrajog and Mr.

¶72

ARB.P. 631/2025 & connected matters Page 6 of 11

¶73

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 25/04/2025 at 17:26:48

¶74

Sandeep Sethi, Senior Advocates with Mr.Rajat Aneja, Mr.Jasmeet Singh, Ms. Ritwika Nanda, Mr. Saif Ali, Mr. Pushpendra S. Bhadoria, Mr. Vijay Sharma, Mr. Sharad Yadav, Mr. Pranav Menon, Mr. Saurav, Ms. Gunjan Yadav and Mr. Aditya Sharma, Advocates.

¶75

versus

¶76

INDIAN RAILWAY CATERING AND TOURISM CORPORATION LIMITED (IRCTC) & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Tushar Mehta, SGI with Mr. Saurav Agrawal, Mr. Anshuman Chowdhury, Ms. Prachi Dubey, Mr.Aarya Bhat and Mr. Shivam Chaudhary, Advocates for IRCTC.

¶77

Mr. Vedansh Anand, Government Pleader with Mr. Pradip Sharma, Advocate for R-2.

¶78

24

¶79

- O.M.P.(I) (COMM.) 381/2023

¶80

M/S R.K. ASSOCIATES AND HOTELIERS PVT. LTD.

¶81

.....Petitioner

¶82

Through: Mr. Sudhir Nandrajog and Mr. Sandeep Sethi, Senior Advocates with Mr.Rajat Aneja, Mr.Jasmeet Singh, Ms. Ritwika Nanda, Mr. Saif Ali, Mr. Pushpendra S. Bhadoria, Mr. Vijay Sharma, Mr. Sharad Yadav, Mr. Pranav Menon, Mr. Saurav, Ms. Gunjan Yadav and Mr. Aditya Sharma, Advocates.

¶83

versus

¶84

INDIAN RAILWAY CATERING AND TOURISM CORPORATION LIMITED (IRCTC) & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Tushar Mehta, SGI with Mr. Saurav Agrawal, Mr. Anshuman Chowdhury, Ms. Prachi Dubey, Mr.Aarya Bhat and Mr. Shivam Chaudhary, Advocates for IRCTC.

¶85

ARB.P. 631/2025 & connected matters Page 7 of 11

¶86

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 25/04/2025 at 17:26:48

¶87

Mr. Vedansh Anand, Government Pleader with Mr. Pradip Sharma, Advocate for R-2.

¶88

25

¶89

- O.M.P.(I) (COMM.) 382/2023

¶90

M/S R.K. ASSOCIATES AND HOTELIERS PVT. LTD.

¶91

.....Petitioner

¶92

Through: Mr. Sudhir Nandrajog and Mr. Sandeep Sethi, Senior Advocates with Mr.Rajat Aneja, Mr.Jasmeet Singh, Ms. Ritwika Nanda, Mr. Saif Ali, Mr. Pushpendra S. Bhadoria, Mr. Vijay Sharma, Mr. Sharad Yadav, Mr. Pranav Menon, Mr. Saurav, Ms. Gunjan Yadav and Mr. Aditya Sharma, Advocates.

¶93

versus

¶94

INDIAN RAILWAY CATERING AND TOURISM CORPORATION LIMITED (IRCTC) & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Tushar Mehta, SGI with Mr. Saurav Agrawal, Mr. Anshuman Chowdhury, Ms. Prachi Dubey, Mr.Aarya Bhat and Mr. Shivam Chaudhary, Advocates for IRCTC. Mr. Vedansh Anand, Advocate for R-2.

¶95

26

¶96

- O.M.P.(I) (COMM.) 385/2023

¶97

BRANDAVAN FOOD PRODUCTS .....Petitioner

¶98

Through: Mr. Sudhir Nandrajog and Mr. Sandeep Sethi, Senior Advocates with Mr.Rajat Aneja, Mr.Jasmeet Singh, Ms. Ritwika Nanda, Mr. Saif Ali, Mr. Pushpendra S. Bhadoria, Mr. Vijay Sharma, Mr. Sharad Yadav, Mr. Pranav Menon, Mr. Saurav, Ms. Gunjan Yadav and Mr. Aditya Sharma, Advocates.

¶99

versus

¶100

INDIAN RAILWAY CATERING AND TOURISM

¶101

ARB.P. 631/2025 & connected matters Page 8 of 11

¶102

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 25/04/2025 at 17:26:48

¶103

CORPORATION LIMITED (IRCTC) & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Tushar Mehta, SGI with Mr. Saurav Agrawal, Mr. Anshuman Chowdhury, Ms. Prachi Dubey, Mr.Aarya Bhat and Mr. Shivam Chaudhary, Advocates for IRCTC.

¶104

CORAM:

¶105

HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE JYOTI SINGH

¶106

O R D E R % 23.04.2025

¶107

I.A. 9625/2025 in ARB.P. 631/2025, I.A. 9626/2025 in ARB.P. 632/2025, I.A. 9628/2025 in ARB.P. 633/2025, I.A. 9629/2025 in ARB.P. 634/2025, I.A. 9630/2025 in ARB.P. 635/2025, I.A. 9631/2025 in ARB.P. 636/2025, I.A. 9632/2025 in ARB.P. 637/2025

¶108

Allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

¶109

Applications stand disposed of.

¶110

ARB.P. 631/2025, ARB.P. 632/2025, ARB.P. 633/2025, ARB.P. 634/2025, ARB.P. 635/2025 ARB.P. 636/2025 and ARB.P. 637/2025

¶111

These petitions have been preferred on behalf of the Petitioners under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (‘1996 Act’) seeking appointment of a Sole Arbitrator.

¶112

O.M.P.(I) (COMM.) 377/2023 and I.A. 23137/2023, O.M.P.(I) (COMM.) 378/2023 and I.A. 23139/2023, O.M.P.(I) (COMM.) 379/2023 and I.A. 23141/2023, O.M.P.(I) (COMM.) 380/2023 and I.A. 23143/2023, O.M.P.(I) (COMM.) 381/2023 and I.A. 23145/2023, O.M.P.(I) (COMM.) 382/2023 and I.A. 23147/2023 and O.M.P.(I) (COMM.) 385/2023 and I.A. 23425/2023

¶113

These petitions have been filed under Section 9 of the 1996 Act for restraining Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) from enforcing the respective demand notices dated 21.08.2023, 29.03.2023, 22.09.2023, 11.08.2023, 31.03.2023, 11.08.2023 and

¶114

ARB.P. 631/2025 & connected matters Page 9 of 11

¶115

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 25/04/2025 at 17:26:48

¶116

21.08.2023.

¶117

Indisputably, these petitions relate to different contracts. However, during the course of hearing, it is agreed between the parties that Hon’ble Ms. Justice Indira Banerjee, former Judge of the Supreme Court be appointed as a Sole Arbitrator to adjudicate the inter se disputes between the respective parties and the seat of arbitration will be Delhi. It is also agreed that petitions under Section 9 of the 1996 Act be treated as applications under Section 17 to be decided by the learned Sole Arbitrator and interim orders granted by this Court be continued till consideration by the learned Arbitrator.

¶118

Accordingly, with the consent of the parties, Hon’ble Ms. Justice Indira Banerjee, former Judge of the Supreme Court is appointed as a Sole Arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes between the parties arising in respect of the contracts which are subject matter of these petitions. It is further directed that petitions under Section 9 will be treated as applications under Section 17 and records be transmitted by the Registry to the learned Arbitrator.

¶119

Before entering upon reference, learned Arbitrator shall give a disclosure under Section 12 of the 1996 Act. As agreed between the parties, it is open to the learned Arbitrator to fix the fees.

¶120

Learned Arbitrator is requested to take up the applications for interim relief as expeditiously as possible after entering upon reference. Interim orders granted by this Court staying the operation of the demand notices aforementioned, shall continue till the learned Arbitrator takes up the applications under Section 17 for consideration, whereupon it will be open to the learned Arbitrator to continue/vacate/modify the said orders in accordance with law.

¶121

ARB.P. 631/2025 & connected matters Page 10 of 11

¶122

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 25/04/2025 at 17:26:48

¶123

It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case. All rights and contentions of the respective parties to the lis are left open.

¶124

Petitions along with pending applications stand disposed of.

¶125

JYOTI SINGH, J

¶126

APRIL 23, 2025/shivam

¶127

ARB.P. 631/2025 & connected matters Page 11 of 11

¶128

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 25/04/2025 at 17:26:48

M/S R.K. Associates and Hoteliers Pvt. Ltd. v. Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (Irctc) & Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

M/S R.K. Associates and Hoteliers Pvt. Ltd. v. Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (Irctc) & Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

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Coram

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