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Bombay High Court

IIFL FINANCE LTDversusNimpari Jewellers

Decided
Disposal
DISPOSED OFF

Holding

The court held that a valid arbitration agreement existed and was duly invoked, and therefore appointed Mr. Jash Gandhi as the sole arbitrator.

Summary

The applicant, IIFL Finance Ltd, 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 21 November 2024 with Nimpari Jewellers. The court examined the record and found that the arbitration clause in Clause 23 of the agreement had been validly invoked by a notice dated 4 March 2026. Satisfied that a subsisting arbitration agreement existed, the court ordered the appointment of Mr. Jash Gandhi as the sole arbitrator. The order also directed the parties to provide contact details, required the arbitrator to file a statutory statement of disclosure, and stipulated that arbitration costs be borne equally by the parties pending a final award. The application was consequently disposed of, directing the parties to appear before the arbitrator for further procedural directions.

Issues considered

  • Whether a valid arbitration agreement exists between IIFL Finance Ltd and Nimpari Jewellers.
  • Whether the arbitration agreement has been duly invoked under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
  • Whether the court should appoint a sole arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes.

Legislation cited

Subjects

  • Arbitration
  • Section 11
  • Arbitration Agreement
  • Appointment of Arbitrator
  • Commercial Arbitration
  • Costs

Judgment

                                                                                 37-CARAP-694-26.doc


                      Sayali
                                IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                    ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION
                                         IN ITS COMMERCIAL DIVISION
SAYALI
DEEPAK
UPASANI                        COMM ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 694 OF 2026
Digitally signed by
SAYALI DEEPAK
UPASANI
Date: 2026.10.08
                      IIFL Finance Ltd                              … Applicant
18:22:10 +0530
                                 V/s.
                      Nimpari Jewellers                             … Respondent

                      Mr. Huzan Bhungara, Mr. Amit Meharia, Paramita
                      Banerjee, Himanshu Kr Singh Preet Dabre, Dhananjay
                      Rao i/b Meharia and Co., for the Applicant.


                                                   CORAM      : AMIT BORKAR, J.

                                                   DATED      : OCTOBER 8, 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 21 November, 2024. The arbitration agreement
                      between the parties is contained in Clause 23 of the said
                      Agreement, a copy whereof is placed at pages 28-38 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 04 March, 2026.




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                                                      37-CARAP-694-26.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 21 November, 2024 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)     Mr. Jash Gandhi, 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:- 3rd Office, Brady House Building, 2nd Floor,
      Kala Ghoda, Mumbai – 400 001.

      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;




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                                                37-CARAP-694-26.doc


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.



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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.)




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