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Bombay High Court

IIFL FINANCE LIMITEDversusAnanth Jewellers

Decided
Disposal
DISPOSED OFF

Holding

The Court held that a valid arbitration agreement subsists and therefore appointed a sole arbitrator under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.

Summary

The applicant, IIFL Finance Limited, filed an application under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 seeking the appointment of an arbitrator to resolve disputes arising from an agreement dated 30 November 2023. The applicant had served a notice of arbitration on the respondent, who failed to reply or file any affidavit. The Court examined the record and concluded that a valid and subsisting arbitration agreement existed between the parties. Consequently, the Court exercised its jurisdiction under Section 11 and appointed Ms. Pranita Saboo as the sole arbitrator, specifying procedural directions for disclosure and communication. All substantive issues were left open for determination by the appointed arbitrator, and the application was disposed of by the appointment order.

Issues considered

  • Whether a valid and subsisting arbitration agreement exists between the parties.
  • Whether the Court has jurisdiction to appoint an arbitrator under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 despite the respondent's non‑response.
  • Whether the respondent's failure to file a reply affects the appointment of a sole arbitrator.

Legislation cited

Subjects

  • Arbitration
  • Section 11
  • Appointment of Arbitrator
  • Arbitration Agreement
  • Commercial Arbitration
  • High Court
  • India

Judgment

                                                                            37.3-carap-434-2026.doc


                      Shabnoor
                               IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                   ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION
                                        IN ITS COMMERCIAL DIVISION

                           COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO.434 OF 2026
SHABNOOR
AYUB
PATHAN                IIFL Finanace Limited                         … Applicant
Digitally signed by
SHABNOOR AYUB
                                 V/s.
PATHAN
Date: 2026.09.11      Ananth Jwellers & Ors.                        … Respondents
16:42:13 +0530




                      Ms. Priya Nigwekar i/b Pallavi Chari, for the Applicant.
                      Respondents appearance not submitted.


                                                  CORAM       : AMIT BORKAR, J.

                                                  DATED       : SEPTEMBER 11, 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 an
                      Agreement dated 30 November 2023. The arbitration agreement
                      between the parties is contained in Clause 20 of the said
                      Agreement, a copy whereof is placed at page 43 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.

                      2.      The record indicates that the Applicant invoked the
                      arbitration agreement by issuing a notice dated 27 March 2026.
                      Despite service of the said notice, the Respondent has neither
                      furnished any reply thereto nor filed any affidavit in reply to the



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present Application.

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 30 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)     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

      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 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
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;




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     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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