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Bombay High Court

K SERA SERA BOX OFFICE PRIVATE LIMITEDversusSAI CINEMA

Decided
Disposal
DISPOSED OFF

Holding

The court held that a valid arbitration agreement exists and duly appointed a sole arbitrator under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.

Summary

The applicant, K Sera Sera Box Office Pvt Ltd, filed an application under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 seeking the appointment of an arbitrator to resolve disputes arising from a Franchise Agreement, Content Agreement and Franchise Food Business and Safety Agreement dated 1 December 2022. The applicant had invoked the arbitration clause by issuing a notice on 1 September 2023. The court examined the records and found that a valid and subsisting arbitration agreement existed between the parties. Consequently, the court appointed Mr. Cyrus Jal as the sole arbitrator and issued procedural directions for communication, disclosure and cost allocation. The application was disposed of, directing the parties to appear before the arbitrator and follow the stipulated process.

Issues considered

  • Whether a valid arbitration agreement subsists between the parties under the 2022 agreements
  • Whether the application under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 is maintainable
  • Whether the court can appoint a sole arbitrator in the present circumstances

Legislation cited

Subjects

  • Arbitration
  • Section 11
  • Sole arbitrator
  • Franchise agreement
  • Arbitration agreement
  • Cost allocation
  • Disclosure

Judgment

                                                                         24-ARBAP-221-26-FM.doc


                      Sayali
                                IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                    ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION
SAYALI
DEEPAK
UPASANI                            ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 221 OF 2026
Digitally signed by
SAYALI DEEPAK
UPASANI
Date: 2026.10.08
                      K Sera Sera Box Office Pvt Ltd               … Applicant
18:22:10 +0530
                                 V/s.
                      Sai Cinema                                   … Respondent

                      Mr. Sarang Pathak, for the Applicant.


                                                   CORAM      : AMIT BORKAR, J.

                                                   DATED      : OCTOBER 8, 2026


                      P.C.:
                      1.       The present Application has been filed under Section 11 of
                      the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (“the Act”), seeking the
                      appointment of an Arbitrator for adjudication of the disputes and
                      differences stated to have arisen between the parties under
                      Franchise Agreement, Content Agreement and Franchise Food
                      Business and Safety Agreement dated 01 December, 2022 The
                      arbitration agreement between the parties is contained in Clauses
                      15, 15.1, 15.2 of the Franchise Agreement Agreement, Clauses
                      8,10 and 10.1 of Content Agreement and Clauses 9, 9.1 and 9.2 of
                      Franchise Food Business and Safety Agreement. In the interest of
                      brevity, the said arbitration clause is not reproduced herein. It
                      would suffice to observe that the present Application falls within
                      the jurisdiction of this Court.




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                                                     24-ARBAP-221-26-FM.doc


2.      The record indicates that the Applicant invoked the
arbitration agreement by issuing a notice dated 01 September,
2023.

3.      Upon perusal of the material placed on record, it is evident
that the arbitration agreement has been duly invoked by the
Applicant.

4.      This Court is satisfied that a valid and subsisting arbitration
agreement exists between the parties and that the said agreement
has been duly invoked. It would, therefore, be appropriate to refer
the disputes and differences arising out of or in connection with
the aforesaid Agreement dated 01 December, 2022 to the
arbitration before a Sole Arbitrator.

5.      In the aforesaid circumstances, the present Application under
Section 11 of the Act, is deserved to be disposed of in terms of the
following order:

        A)   Mr. Cyrus Jal, an advocate of this Court, is hereby
        appointed as the Sole Arbitrator to adjudicate upon the
        disputes and differences between the parties arising out of
        and in connection with the under Franchise Agreement,
        Content Agreement and Franchise Food Business and
        Safety Agreement dated 01 December, 2022;

        Office Address:- Chambers of Karl Tamboly, Office No. 3,
        2nd Floor, Brady House, 12/14, Veer Nariman Road, Fort,
        Mumbai – 400001.

        Contact No.9820343038




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                                             24-ARBAP-221-26-FM.doc


B)   A copy of this Order will be communicated to the
Learned Sole Arbitrator by the Advocates for the
Applicant within a period of one week from today. The
Applicant shall provide the contact and communication
particulars of the parties to the Arbitral Tribunal along
with a copy of this Order;

C)   The Learned Sole Arbitrator is requested to
forward the statutory Statement of Disclosure under
Section 11(8) read with Section 12(1) of the Act to the
Advocates for the Applicant so as to enable them to file
the same in the Registry of this Court. The Registry of
this Court shall retain the said Statement on the file of
this Applicant and a copy of the same shall be furnished
by the Advocates for the Applicant to the Advocates for
the Respondent;

D)   The parties shall appear before the Learned Sole
Arbitrator on such date and at such place as may be
indicated by the Learned Sole Arbitrator, for obtaining
appropriate directions with regard to the conduct of the
arbitral proceedings, including fixing the schedule for
filing of pleadings, examination of witnesses, if any, and
dates of hearing. At such meeting, the parties shall
furnish to the Arbitral Tribunal valid and functional
email addresses, together with the mobile and landline
telephone numbers of their respective Advocates.
Communications sent to the said email addresses shall
constitute valid service of correspondence in connection



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     with the arbitral proceedings.

     E)    All arbitral costs and fees of the arbitration and of
     the Arbitral Tribunal shall be borne by the parties equally
     in the first instance. The same shall, however, remain
     subject to any final Award that may be passed by the
     Arbitral Tribunal in relation to costs.

6.    The Learned Sole Arbitrator shall be at liberty to adjudicate
upon the claims and counterclaims, if any, and to determine all
questions relating to merits, in accordance with law.

7.    All actions required to be taken pursuant to this order shall
be taken upon receipt of a downloaded copy as available on this
Court’s website.

8.    The Commercial Arbitration Application stands disposed of
in above terms.

                                               (AMIT BORKAR, J.)




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