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Judgment
1. This matter has been called out in revised list.
2. Vide order dated 10.09.2026, this Court granted two weeks' time to the Respondent to file reply. However, no reply has been filed yet.
3. Ms. Disha Choudhary, learned GP appearing on behalf of the Respondents seeks further time to file reply.
4. Upon being queried about if there is any dispute to the existence of arbitration clause, learned Counsel for the Respondents failed to point any infirmity in the arbitration clause between the parties.
5. It is well settled that, while exercising jurisdiction under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act1, the scope of enquiry is confined to examining the prima facie existence of an arbitration agreement2.
In the present case, there is no dispute with regard to the existence of a valid arbitration clause between the parties.
Therefore, this Court finds no impediment in appointing a Sole Arbitrator.
Learned Counsel for the Petitioner submits that the amount in dispute is Rs.56 lakhs (approx.).
Accordingly, Mr. Naveen Kumar Shukla, Former Principal Executive Director, Mobility, Ministry of Railways, Railway Board (Mob. No.9818855701) is appointed as a learned Sole Arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes arisen between the parties. The learned Sole Arbitrator shall enter upon the reference within three weeks from today.
The learned Sole Arbitrator will proceed to the arbitration proceedings subject to furnishing requisite disclosures as required under Section 12(2) of the Act within three weeks of entering reference.
The arbitration shall be carried under the rules and aegis of Delhi International Arbitration Centre (“DIAC”). The learned Arbitrator shall be entitled to fees as per the Schedule of Fees maintained by the DIAC.
It shall be open to the parties to raise all pleas, including objection as to arbitrability and jurisdiction, before the learned Sole Arbitrator who shall decide the same in accordance with law.
It is clarified that the observations made herein are only for the purpose of deciding the present petition under Section 11(6) of the Act. The learned Sole Arbitrator shall adjudicate the disputes independently and on their own merits, uninfluenced by any observations contained in the present order.
The Registry is directed to send a receipt of this order to Mr. Naveen Kumar Shukla, learned Arbitrator through all permissible modes including email.
Accordingly, the present petition is disposed of in the above terms.