Bombay High Court
Schindler India Private LimitedversusMemphis Realtors Private Limited
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED OFF
Holding
The court held that a valid arbitration agreement existed and was duly invoked, warranting the appointment of a sole arbitrator under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
Summary
The Bombay High Court was approached under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 to appoint an arbitrator for disputes arising from an agreement dated 29 September 2022 between Schindler India Private Limited and Memphis Realtors Private Limited. The applicant invoked the arbitration clause by issuing a notice on 6 November 2025, to which the respondent neither replied nor filed any affidavit. The court examined the record and found a valid, subsisting arbitration agreement that had been duly invoked. Consequently, the court appointed Ms. Pranita Saboo as the sole arbitrator and issued procedural directions for disclosure, communication, and cost allocation. The court ordered that all merits issues remain open for determination by the arbitrator and that the parties comply with the statutory requirements under Sections 11(8) and 12(1).
Issues considered
- Whether a valid arbitration agreement exists between the parties under the 1996 Act
- Whether the applicant properly invoked the arbitration agreement under Section 11
- Whether the court should appoint a sole arbitrator and issue procedural directions
Legislation cited
- Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — s. 11, 11(8), 12(1)
Subjects
- Arbitration
- Section 11
- Arbitration agreement
- Sole arbitrator appointment
- Statutory disclosure
- Arbitral costs
Judgment
32-arbap-343-2026 with connected.doc
Shabnoor
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION
ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 343 OF 2026
SHABNOOR
AYUB
Schindler India Private Limited … Applicant
PATHAN V/s.
Digitally signed by
SHABNOOR AYUB
Memphis Realtors Private Limited … Respondent
PATHAN
Date: 2026.09.11
16:42:13 +0530
WITH
ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 356 OF 2026
Schindler India Private Limited … Applicant
V/s.
Memphis Realtors Private Limited … Respondent
Mr. Surabh Jain a/w Ms. Bhumika Chulani, for the
Applicant.
Mr. N. Patel i/b Diamondwala & Co., for the
Respondents.
CORAM : AMIT BORKAR, J.
DATED : SEPTEMBER 11, 2026
P.C.:
1. The present Applications have 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 an
Agreement dated 29 September 2022. The arbitration agreement
between the parties is contained in Clause 12 of the said
Agreement, a copy whereof is placed at page 48 of the Application.
In the interest of brevity, the said arbitration clause is not
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reproduced herein. It would suffice to observe that the present
Applications falls within the jurisdiction of this Court.
2. The record indicates that the Applicant invoked the
arbitration agreement by issuing a notice dated 6 November 2025.
Despite service of the said notice, the Respondent has neither
furnished any reply thereto nor filed any affidavit in reply to the
present Applications.
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 29 September 2022 to arbitration
before a Sole Arbitrator.
5. In the aforesaid circumstances, the present Applications
under Section 11 of the Act, is deserved to be disposed of in terms
of the following order:
A) Ms. Pranita Saboo, 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 Agreement referred to above;
Office Address:- Add: 6th floor, Aban House, Saibaba Rd,
beside Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue, Kala Ghoda, Fort,
Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001
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Email: [email protected]
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 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
parties within a period of two weeks from receipt of a
copy of this Order;
E) The parties shall appear before the Learned Sole
Arbitrator on such date and at such place as indicated, to
obtain appropriate directions with regard to conduct of
the arbitration including fixing a schedule for pleadings,
examination of witnesses, if any, schedule of hearings
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etc. At such meeting, the parties shall provide a valid
and functional email address along with mobile and
landline numbers of the respective Advocates of the
parties to the Arbitral Tribunal. Communications to such
email addresses shall constitute valid service of
correspondence in connection with the arbitration;
F) All arbitral costs and fees of the Arbitral Tribunal
as prescribed in the schedule of the Institute shall be
borne by the parties equally in the first instance, and
shall be subject to any final Award that may be passed by
the Tribunal in relation to costs.
6. All issues on merits are expressly kept open to be agitated
before the arbitral tribunal appointed hereby.
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.
(AMIT BORKAR, J.)
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