Highfive Global Networks Pvt. Ltd. v. Emma Sleep India Pvt. Ltd. and Ors.
Case brief
What is this about?
Keywords: Section 9 and Section 17, Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996; interim relief/injunction; BPO/call-centre agreement termination; termination notice dated 27.03.2026; Clause 2.3.3 termination without reason; confidentiality breach / refund policy leak; consent referral to arbitration; appointment of sole arbitrator (Dr. Justice (Retd.) S. Muralidhar); Schedule IV remuneration; Section 12 declaration; Specific Relief Act 1963 ss. 14(1)(d) and 41(e); determinable contracts; Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. v. Amritsar Gas Service, (1991) 1 SCC 533; retrenchment charges / mass layoff; New Delhi seat and exclusive jurisdiction; Highfive Global Networks Pvt. Ltd.; Emma Sleep India Pvt Ltd.
What did the court decide?
Petition and pending applications disposed of by consent referral to arbitration: Dr. Justice (Retd.) S. Muralidhar appointed Sole Arbitrator (remuneration per Schedule IV of the Arbitration Act; declaration under Section 12 required before entering the reference); liberty to respondent no. 1 to raise counter-claims; all rights and contentions including arbitrability and merits left open; Section 9 petition to be treated as a Section 17 application before the Arbitrator, with liberty to file it there; parties to approach the Arbitrator within two weeks; Registry directed to send a copy of the order to the Arbitrator.