This petition has been filed seeking to appoint an Arbitrator to adjudicate upon the disputes arisen between the petitioner and the respondent.
2. The parties have entered into a Hire Purchase Agreement dated 01.10.2014 containing Clause 30 as arbitration clause, which reads as under:-
30. If any dispute arises between the parties out of or in connection with the agreement whether in the nature of interpretation or meaning of any terms hereof or as to any claim by one against the other, or otherwise the same shall be referred to arbitration of a common arbitrator if agreed upon otherwise to two arbitrators one to be appointed by each party hereto and the arbitration shall be governed by the Arbitration Act, 1940.
3. On 18.06.2016, the petitioner issued a notice to the respondent invoking arbitration clause. In that notice name of three retired District Judges were suggested, of which, the respondent was requested to choose any one. Though the respondent received the said notice, till date they have not responded. Hence, the present petition seeking appointment of a Sole Arbitrator to resolve the disputes.
4. Notice sent in this petition was served on the respondent and proof of service has been filed. The name of the respondent has also been printed in the cause list.
5. Today when the matter is taken up for hearing, none appeared for the respondent. Since the agreement contains an arbitration clause and disputes having arisen between the parties and according to the petitioner, the jurisdiction is of the Chennai Courts, I am of the view that the matter is liable to be referred to arbitration.
6. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that any one of the Arbitrator in the panel of a retried District Judge may be appointed as an Arbitrator in this matter.
7. I, thus, by consent appoint Mr.D.Krishnaraja, a retired District Judge as the Sole Arbitrator, to enter upon the reference and adjudicate the disputes inter se the parties. The arbitration proceedings will be conducted under the aegis of the Madras High Court Arbitration Centre and the parties will be governed by the Rules of the Centre. In case of non-availability of the Madras High Court Arbitration Centre, the case may be held at Nani Palkhivala Arbitration Centre at No.22, Karpagambal Nagar, Mylapore, Chennai-600 004. The parties to appear before the Centre on 24.03.2017 at 10.30 A.M.
8. The original petition is, accordingly, allowed, leaving the parties to bear their own costs.
(H.G.R., ACJ.) 24.02.2017 bbr Note: Mark a copy to
(i) The Addl. Registrar-Vigilance Madras High Court Arbitration Centre, Madras High Court Campus, Chennai.
(ii)The Arbitrator, as referred above.
The Hon'ble Acting Chief Justice bbr O.P.No.586 of 2016 24.02.2017 http://www.judis.nic.in