Chander Kant and Co. vs Delhi Development Authority

Mukul Mudgal, J.—This appeal challenges the judgment of learned Single Judge in respect of two claims i.e., claim No. 1 and claim No. 24.

We take the issue of claim No. 24 first. In so far as claim No. 24 is concerned, it is not disputed that Clause No. 10C requires not only increase of statutory wages but also proof of payments thereof. In the present case, the proof of payments to the workmen concerned had not been produced by the appellant/claimant, and, accordingly, there is no documentary proof in so far as claim No. 24. Therefore, finding on claim No. 24 was rightly set aside by the learned Single Judge.

In so far as claim No. 1 is concerned, the finding of arbitrator is as under:

The details of claim are as follows:

-Bricks - 199000 No. Rs. 400 per thousand 79600

-M.S. sq. bars-12 MT Rs. 5000 per mt. 60000

-Brick tiles- 90000 Rs. 400 per thous. 36000

175600

Respondents have submitted photo copies of departmental registers for issue of materials. Curiously in many places contractors signatures are not there even though required. There are no records produced by respondent of receipt of materials by claimant. Whenever any material is issued by respondent to claimant an unstamped Receipt is to be invariably taken (USR). Such USRs are not there. If USRs were not signed any prudent person will not issue further materials. No cogent reason has been put forward by respondent for continued issue of material without USR. The only record produced is MAS account which is respondents departmental record and there also there is no receipt on these items from claimant, even though for some other items such receipt is there. Therefore, I do not consider as valid that materials were continued to be issued even though claimants had not signed USR. The acceptance signature on a bill is to get payment and I do not consider that as a valid receipt for the materials as contended by respondent.

Significantly, the arbitrator is an expert in the field being a retired Director General of Works, CPWD. Learned Single Judge has set aside the above finding on claim No. 1 by relying on running bill R-27. In our view, the learned Single Judge has upset a finding of the fact recorded by an Arbitrator which fell in his province as it is the Arbitrator who is the fact finding authority. The arbitrator records that for the materials for which adjustment sought by the DDA, there were no receipts (USRs) available as signed by the appellant/contractor. Learned Single Judge had not dealt with this finding of the arbitrator. There was no receipt available in the file and nor was the Registers for issue of the materials by the DDA signed at many places by the contractor and in spite of these factors, the learned Single Judge has merely placed only reliance on R-27 which shows that certain deductions had been made by DDA. In our view a finding of fact recorded by the arbitrator ought not to have been reversed by the learned Single Judge as the arbitrator is entitled to arrive at a finding of fact and unless it is wholly perverse in that such a finding of fact could never have been arrived at a court hearing objections against an award ought not to set aside such a finding of fact when two views were possible and an arbitrator had taken one plausible view.

We partly allow the appeal and sustain claim No. 1 preferred by the appellant and dismiss the appellant''s plea in respect of disallowance of claim No. 24. We feel that the interest of justice will be met if this claim is allowed without grant of any interest.

We however hold that the appellant is entitled to interest at the rate of 9% per annum instead of 12% stated in the award in terms of the recent trend of judicial opinion in Rajendra Construction Company Vs. Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority and Others, , McDermott International Inc. Vs. Burn Standard Co. Ltd. and Others, & Rajasthan State Road Transport Corpn. Vs. Indag Rubber Ltd., & Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Ltd. Vs. G. Harischandra Reddy and Another, . The appeal stands disposed of accordingly.