2021 INSC 0261
 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 542  OF 2021
(Arising out of SLP (Civil) No. 10851 of 2020)
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA              … APPELLANT
               
VERSUS
M/s. PROGRESSIVE CONSTRUCTION LTD.               … RESPONDENT
O R D E R
 
INDU MALHOTRA, J.
          Leave granted. 
              The   present   Appeal   arises   out   of   the   Judgment   passed   under
Section   34   of   the   Arbitration   and   Conciliation   Act,   1996   wherein   the
Single Judge  vide  Order  dated 10.04.2019  has  substantially  set aside
the   Award   dated   27.04.2016   passed   by   a   three­member   tribunal.   It
has   been   observed   that   the   arbitral   tribunal   has   drawn   incorrect
inferences from the documents on record, and has not considered vital
and   relevant   evidence   in   reaching   its   conclusions.   On   this   basis,   a
substantial   number   of   claims   and   counter   claims   were   rejected,
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granting   liberty   to   the   parties   to   re­agitate   their   claims,   and   counter
claim (a) afresh in accordance with law.   
        Aggrieved   by   the   judgment   of   the   Single   Judge,   cross   appeals
were filed by both parties under Section 37 before the Division Bench.
The Division Bench vide the impugned interim Order dated 04.12.2019
directed   that   the   Appeals   be   confined   to   the   findings   with   respect   to
claim nos. 1(i) and (ii); and counter claim (a).
 
      The   Appellant­NHAI   filed   the   present   Appeal   to   challenge   the
interim Order dated 04.12.2019.
 
  During the pendency of the present Appeal, the parties agreed to a
fresh   adjudication   of   all   the   claims   and   counter   claims   made   by   the
parties before a Sole Arbitrator to be appointed by this Court. 
  We direct that the arbitral proceedings be conducted afresh by the
Indian   Council   of   Arbitration,   Federation   House,   Tansen   Marg,   New
Delhi­110001   in   accordance   with   its   Rules.   The   Indian   Council   of
Arbitration   will   have   the   entire   record   of   the   arbitral   proceedings
collected from the previous arbitral tribunal.
    Accordingly,   with   the   consent   of   the   Counsel   for   the   parties,   we
appoint Justice G. S. Singhvi, former Judge of this Court, as the Sole
Arbitrator,   who   will   adjudicate   all   the   claims   and   counter   claims
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afresh.   If   the   Sole   Arbitrator   requires   the   assistance   of   qualified
Engineer/s or Expert/s, he may appoint such person/s under Section
26 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The Ld. Arbitrator is
free   to   fix   his   fees   after   consultation   with   the   parties,   which   will   be
borne equally by them.
    The   appointment   of   the   Sole   Arbitrator   is   subject   to   the
declarations made under Section 12 of the Arbitration and Conciliation
Act,   1996   (as   amended)   with   respect   to   the   independence   and
impartiality of the arbitrator, and the ability to devote sufficient time to
complete   the   proceedings   within   the   statutory   period   of   12   months
under   Section   29A   of   the   Act.   Parties   are   directed   to   approach   the
Indian Council of Arbitration within a period of 2 weeks to fix the date
of the arbitral proceedings.
  
    A   copy   of   the   Appeal   paper­book   be   provided   by   the   Registry   to
the   Indian   Council   of   Arbitration,   to   enable   it   to   proceed   with   the
matter.
   
    In   view   of   the   aforesaid   directions,   the   Order   dated   04.12.2019
passed   by   the   Delhi   High   Court   in   FAO(OS)(Comm)   353/2019   is   set
aside.   The   Appeals   filed   by   both   parties   under   Section   37   of   the
Arbitration Act being FAO (OS) (Comm) 353 and 182 of 2019 pending
before the Delhi High Court have accordingly become infructuous. 
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    The   present   Appeal   is   allowed   in   the   aforesaid   terms.   Pending
applications, if any, stand disposed of.
…………………………………J.
          (INDU MALHOTRA) 
       …………………………………J.
(AJAY RASTOGI)
New Delhi,
February 12 th
, 2021
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