Sterimax India Pvt Ltd v. Puerto Life Sciences Pvt Ltd & ANR.

$~8 *

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

+ O.M.P. (T) (COMM.) 88/2025 STERIMAX INDIA PVT LTD .....Petitioner Through:

Mr. Vaibhav Gaggar, Senior Advocate with Ms. Shraddha Achilya, Mr. Utsav Trivedi, Ms. Manini Roy, Ms. Nandini Acharya, Mr.

Anudatt Dubey, Mr.

Shanmukh Purank and Mr. Abhishek Nair, Advocates.

versus PUERTO LIFE SCIENCES PVT LTD & ANR.

.....Respondents Through:

Mr. Preetam Singh, Advocate for R-1 Mr.

Amit Agrawal, Mr.

Rahur Kukreja and Mr. Rishabh Warrier, Advocates for R-2

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMIT BANSAL

O R D E R

% 28.10.2025 1.

The present petition has been filed under Sections 14 and 15 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, (hereinafter 'Act') seeking appointment of a substitute Arbitrator in place of the Sole Arbitrator that was appointed by this Court vide order dated 18th December, 2024, in a Section 11 petition, being ARB.P. 1297/2024, filed on behalf of the respondent no.l. To be noted the Sole Arbitrator appointed by this Court was a Former Judge of the Bombay High Court.

2.

Since the Sole Arbitrator appointed by this Court in terms of the O.M.P. (T) (COMM.) 88/2025 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 30/10/2025 at 12:33:05

aforesaid order recused from proceeding with the arbitration proceedings, the respondent no.2/Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration (MCIA) appointed a substitute arbitrator on 9th April 2025, who is an Advocate. 3.

Counsel for the parties have been heard briefly. 4.

Taking into account the nature of the dispute, both counsel, on instruction, seek appointment of a retired Judge of High Court to be appointed as Sole Arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes arising between the parties. Counsel emphasise that a similar request was also made to the respondent no.2/MCIA.

5.

In these circumstances, it has been put to the counsel appearing for respondent no.2/MCIA, if the MCIA would be agreeable to appoint a retired Judge of a High Court from its panel as a Sole Arbitrator in the present case. 6.

In the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, the counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent no.2 submits that MCIA would have no objection to appoint a Former Judge of a High Court as Sole Arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes between the parties.

7.

MCIA is requested to appoint the Sole Arbitrator in an expeditious manner.

8.

The proceedings shall continue from the stage where it was, before the current Arbitrator, i.e. Mr. Rahul Narayan. 9.

The petition, along with pending applications, stands disposed of. 10.

Needless to say, no observations have been made on the merits of the case.

AMIT BANSAL, J OCTOBER 28, 2025 Vivek/- O.M.P. (T) (COMM.) 88/2025 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 30/10/2025 at 12:33:05