Bombay High Court
Trucap Finance LtdversusKarma Media and Entertainment llp and others
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED OFF
Holding
A valid arbitration agreement existed and had been duly invoked, justifying the appointment of a sole arbitrator under Section 11 of the Act.
Summary
The Bombay High Court examined an application under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 filed by Trucap Finance Ltd seeking appointment of an arbitrator to resolve disputes arising from agreements dated 6 October 2023 and 9 November 2023 with Karma Media and Entertainment LLP. The court verified that the arbitration clause in Clause 36 of the agreements was valid, subsisting, and had been properly invoked by a notice dated 2 March 2026. Finding no impediment to arbitration, the court concluded that the application was maintainable. Accordingly, it appointed Mr. Abhishek Kothari as the sole arbitrator and issued detailed procedural directions, including disclosure requirements and cost allocation. The order disposes of the Section 11 application and sets the arbitration process in motion.
Issues considered
- Whether a valid and subsisting arbitration agreement exists between the parties.
- Whether the Section 11 application for appointment of an arbitrator is maintainable.
- Whether the court may appoint a sole arbitrator under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
Legislation cited
- Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — s. 11, 11(8), 12(1)
Subjects
- Arbitration
- Section 11
- Arbitration agreement
- Sole arbitrator appointment
- Commercial dispute
- Procedural directions
Judgment
48-carap-366-2026.doc
Shabnoor
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION
IN ITS COMMERCIAL DIVISION
SHABNOOR COMM ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 366 OF 2026
AYUB
PATHAN
Digitally signed by
SHABNOOR AYUB
Trucap Finance Ltd … Applicant
PATHAN
Date: 2026.09.17
V/s.
16:41:25 +0530
Karma Media and Entertainment LLP
& Ors. … Respondents
Mr. Kaustubh Gupte a/w MS. Manali Gori, for the
Applicant.
Ms. Prachi Shukla a/w Mr. Gaurav Dubey i/b V. K.
Dubey Associates, for Respondents.
CORAM : AMIT BORKAR, J.
DATED : SEPTEMBER 17, 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 the
Agreements dated 6 October 2023 and 9 November 2023. The
arbitration agreement between the parties is contained in Clause
36 of the said Agreements, copies whereof are placed at pages 76,
75, 103 and 131 of the Application. 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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48-carap-366-2026.doc
2. The record indicates that the Applicant invoked the
arbitration agreement by issuing a notice dated 2 March 2026.
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 Agreements dated 6 October 2023 and 9 November
2023 to 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. Abhishek Kothari 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:- C/o Sr. Adv. Ashish Kamat, 501, Oval House,
British Hotel Lane, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai – 400001.
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
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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 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.
F) 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.
(AMIT BORKAR, J.)
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