Bombay High Court
Morphosis Realtors I Private LimitedversusGaurishankar Musafir Singh
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED OFF
Holding
The court held that a valid arbitration agreement exists and appointed Justice Avinash Gharote as the sole arbitrator under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
Summary
The applicant filed a Section 11 application in the Bombay High Court seeking appointment of an arbitrator under an arbitration clause in a development agreement dated 14 March 2011. The applicant had served a notice of arbitration on 11 June 2026, but the respondent neither replied nor filed an affidavit. The court examined the record and found that a valid and subsisting arbitration agreement existed and had been duly invoked. Consequently, the court appointed former Judge Justice Avinash Gharote as the sole arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes arising from the agreement. The order also directed procedural steps for disclosure, communication, and cost allocation, while leaving all merits open for determination by the arbitrator.
Issues considered
- Whether a valid arbitration agreement exists between the parties under the 2011 Development Agreement.
- Whether the Section 11 application for appointment of an arbitrator is maintainable.
- Whether the court should appoint a sole arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes.
Legislation cited
- Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — s. 11, 11(8), 12(1)
Subjects
- Arbitration
- Section 11
- Appointment of Arbitrator
- Arbitration Agreement
- Commercial Arbitration
- High Court
Judgment
44-carap-512-2026.doc
Shabnoor
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION
IN ITS COMMERCIAL DIVISION
COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 512 OF 2026
SHABNOOR Morphosis Realtors (I) Private Limited … Applicant
AYUB V/s.
PATHAN
Digitally signed by
Gaurishankar Musafir Singh … Respondent
SHABNOOR AYUB
PATHAN
Date: 2026.09.10
18:26:02 +0530
Mr. Amoh Singh a/w Rahul Arora i/b Jeet Gandhi, for
the Applicant.
Mr. Sandeep Singh, for Respondent.
CORAM : AMIT BORKAR, J.
DATED : SEPTEMBER 10, 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 14 March 2011. The arbitration agreement
between the parties is contained in Clause 30 of the said
Agreement, a copy whereof is placed at page 38 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 11 June 2026.
Despite service of the said notice, the Respondent has neither
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44-carap-512-2026.doc
furnished any reply thereto nor filed any affidavit in reply to the
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 14 March 2011 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) Justice Avinash Gharote former judge of this Court, is
hereby appointed as the Sole Arbitrator to adjudicate upon
the disputes and differences between the parties arising out
of Development Agreement dated 14 March 2011;
Office Address:- Plot No.49, Ground Floor, Shreenarayan
Complex, Besides Punjab National Bank, Bajaj Nagar, Nagpur
440010
Email ID: [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
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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
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
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correspondence in connection with the arbitration;
F) All arbitral costs and fees of the Arbitral Tribunal
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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