M/S. Sorting Hat Technologies Private Limited Vs Aashish Arora — Arbitration | Karnataka HC (2025)

M/S. Sorting Hat Technologies Private Limited Vs Aashish Arora — Arbitration | Karnataka HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Petition allowed: dispute first referred to the Bengaluru Mediation Centre, with the parties to appear at 2.30 p.m. on 15.12.2025 before its Director; in the event mediation is unsuccessful, the matter is referred to arbitration with Hon'ble Justice Sri. John Michael D'Cunha, a former Judge of the High Court of Karnataka, appointed as sole arbitrator under the aegis of the Arbitration Centre attached to the Court; all contentions left open.

Issue for consideration

Whether a sole arbitrator ought to be appointed under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 to adjudicate the disputes that have arisen between the parties under Clause 22.5 (pleaded in the prayer as Clause 22.5A) of the Plus Educator Agreement dated 01.04.2022.

Court's answer

The Civil Misc. Petition is allowed.

Ratio / Principle

The matter is referred to the Bengaluru Mediation Centre (spelt 'Benglauru' in the order) and the Director, Mediation Centre is requested to depute a Mediator to resolve the dispute between the parties amicably.

Key takeaways

Since the order was passed in the presence of both counsel, the parties shall appear at 2.30 p.m. on 15.12.2025 before the Director, Bengaluru Mediation Centre (printed as 'Bengaluru Medication Center').ratio¶36
In the event mediation is not successful, the matter stands referred to Arbitration.ratio¶37
Hon'ble Justice Sri. John Michael D'Cunha, a former Judge of the High Court of Karnataka, is appointed as sole arbitrator to arbitrate the dispute between the parties under the aegis of the Arbitration Centre attached to the Court.ratio

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — Section 11(6) — Civil Misc. Petition No. 170 of 2024, M/s. Sorting Hat Technologies Private Limited v. Aashish Arora (Suraj Govindaraj, J., 05.12.2025, High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru): petition sought appointment of a sole arbitrator for disputes under the Plus Educator Agreement dated 01.04.2022 (arbitration clause pleaded as Clause 22.5 in the cause title and Clause 22.5A in the prayer). After arguing for some time, both counsel jointly submitted that the matter be first referred to mediation and, if unsuccessful, to arbitration keeping all contentions open. Held: CMP allowed; matter referred to the Bengaluru Mediation Centre with the Director to depute a Mediator, parties to appear at 2.30 p.m. on 15.12.2025; in the event mediation is not successful, the matter stands referred to Arbitration with Hon'ble Justice Sri. John Michael D'Cunha, a former Judge of the High Court of Karnataka, appointed sole arbitrator under the aegis of the Arbitration Centre attached to the Court; all contentions left open; Registry directed to return original and/or certified copies produced.

1 - NC: 2025:KHC:51448 CMP No. 170 of 2024

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 5^TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2025

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ

CIVIL MISC. PETITION NO. 170 OF 2024

BETWEEN:

M/S. SORTING HAT TECHNOLOGIES PRIVATE LIMITED, A COMPANY INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT, 2013 AND HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE AT MARUTHI INFOTECH CENTRE, 3RD FLOOR, A BLOCK, DOMLUR, KORAMANAGALA, INNER RING ROAD, BANGALORE - 560 071, REPRESENTED HEREIN BY ITS AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY, MR. HARISH SASIKUMAR, E: [email protected]

…PETITIONER

(BY SRI. ABHIJIT ATUR, ADVOCATE)

Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA

Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

AND:

AASHISH ARORA AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS, SON OF ASHOK KUMAR, RESIDING AT H. NO. 1211, URBAN ESTATE-II, HISAR, HARYANA - 125 001, E: [email protected] ALSO AT 968, URBAN ESTATE-II, HISAR, HARYANA - 125 001.

…RESPONDENT

(BY SRI. SATHIES KUMAR S, ADVOCATE)

2 -

NC: 2025:KHC:51448 CMP No. 170 of 2024

HC-KAR

THIS CIVIL MISC. PETITION IS FILED UNDER SEC.11(6) OF THE ARBITRATION AND CONCILIATION ACT 1996, PRAYING TO 1 APPOINT HONBLE MR. J. ASHOK B. HINCHIGERI (RETD. JUDGE, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA) OR ANY OTHER PERSON THAT THIS HONBLE COURT MAY DEEM FIT, AS THE SOLE ARBITRATOR TO ADJUDICATE THE DISPUTES THAT HAVE ARISEN BETWEEN THE PARTIES UNDER CLAUSE 22.5 OF THE PLUS EDUCATOR AGREEMENT DATED 01.04.2022 (ANNEXURE A) HEREIN.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ

ORAL ORDER

The petitioner is before this Court, seeking for the following reliefs:

(a) Appoint Hon'ble Mr. J. Ashok B Hinchigeri (Retd. Judge, High Court of Karnataka) or any other person that this Hon'ble Court may deem fit, as the Sole Arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes that have arisen Under Clause 22.5A between the parties of the Plus Educator Agreement dated 01.04.2022 (Annexure A) herein; and

(b) GRANT such other relief/s that this Hon'ble Court deems fit in the interests of justice and equity.

After arguing for sometime, both the counsel submit that the matter may initially be referred to mediation, if the mediation is not successful to arbitration by keeping all contentions open.

3 -

NC: 2025:KHC:51448 CMP No. 170 of 2024

HC-KAR

In that view of the matter, I pass the following:

ORDER

i) The CMP is allowed .

ii) The matter is referred to Benglauru Mediation Centre. The Director, Mediation Centre is requested to depute a Mediator to resolve the dispute between the parties amicably.

iii) Since the order is passed in the presence of both the counsel, the parties shall appear at 2.30 p.m. on 15.12.2025 before the Director, Bengaluru Medication Center.

iv) In the event of mediation not being successful, the matter is referred to Arbitration.

v) Hon'ble Justice Sri. John Michael D'Cunha, a former Judge of this Court is appointed as a sole Arbitrator to arbitrate the dispute between the parties under the aegis of the Arbitration Centre attached to this Court.

vi) All contentions are left open.

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NC: 2025:KHC:51448 CMP No. 170 of 2024

HC-KAR

vii) Registry is directed to return the original and/or certified copies, if produced, to the respective parties who have produced it/them by following due procedure.

Sd/(SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE

GJM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 32