Bombay High Court
KOTAK MAHINDRA BANK LTD Through its Authorised Signatory Mr Dattatray JagtapversusDHAWAL MANISH THALKAR
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED OFF
Holding
The Court held that a valid arbitration agreement existed and ordered the appointment of Ms. Deepali A. Bagla as the sole arbitrator.
Summary
Kotak Mahindra Bank 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 18 November 2022. The bank had invoked the arbitration clause by issuing a notice on 15 December 2025. The Court examined the record and found that a valid, subsisting arbitration agreement existed and had been duly invoked. Consequently, the Court appointed Ms. Deepali A. Bagla as the sole arbitrator and directed the parties to cooperate with the arbitrator on procedural matters. The order also directed the arbitrator to file a statutory statement of disclosure and stipulated that arbitration costs be borne equally by the parties, subject to the final award. The application was thereafter disposed of.
Issues considered
- The existence and validity of the arbitration agreement between the parties.
- Whether the Court has jurisdiction to entertain the Section 11 application for appointment of an arbitrator.
- The appropriate procedure for appointing 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
- Commercial Arbitration
- Costs
Judgment
30-carap541-2026.doc
AGK
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION
IN ITS COMMERCIAL DIVISION
COMM ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO.541 OF 2026
Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited,
through its Authorised Signatory
Mr. Dattatray Jagtap … Applicant
V/s.
Dhawal Manish Thalkar … Respondent
ATUL
Mr. Omkar Shere i/by Vikrant Sabne & Associates for
GANESH the Applicant.
KULKARNI
Digitally signed
by ATUL
GANESH
KULKARNI CORAM : AMIT BORKAR, J.
Date: 2026.10.07
16:43:49 +0530
DATED : OCTOBER 7, 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 18 November 2022. The arbitration agreement
between the parties is contained in Clause 10.15 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
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 15 December
2025, a copy of which is at page 64 of the Application.
1
30-carap541-2026.doc
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 18 November 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) Ms. Deepali A Bagla, 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 Agreement referred to above;
Office Address:- Sukhia Building, 2nd Floor, Cawasji Patel
Street, Fort, Mumbai 400001;
Email Id:- [email protected];
Mobile No. 9920378770.
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
2
30-carap541-2026.doc
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 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.
3
30-carap541-2026.doc
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.)
4
Checking your session…
Lawyer court records for this case
Associated through the court’s case reference.