Hdb Financial Services Ltd v. Santosh Phillip Placid

16to165.doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION SERIAL NOS. 16 TO 165 Advocate Mr. Suraj Gupta i/b SG Legal & Associates for the Applicants in Sr No.16, 37 to 44, 62,76,124,125.

None present for others.

CORAM

:

ABHAY AHUJA, J.

DATE :

30th MARCH 2026 P.C. :

1.

All these matters have been listed in view of the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Bhadra International (India) Pvt. Ltd. and Others vs. Airports Authority of India1 where the Hon'ble Supreme Court has observed that unilateral appointment of arbitrator is void ab initio and the ineligibility can be raised at any stage and even in execution.

2.

Since in all these matters it has been found by the office of the Prothonotary & Senior Master of this Court that the appointment of the sole arbitrator has been unilateral, the said applications, in view of the above decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, stand dismissed. The respective arbitral awards stand set aside and the Commercial Execution Applications and the connected Interim Applications as well Digitally signed by NIKITA YOGESH GADGIL Date:

2026.03.30 20:06:14 +0530 as the Chamber Summons, if any, stand accordingly disposed. NIKITA YOGESH GADGIL 2026 SCC Online SC 7 Nikita Gadgil 1/2

16to165.doc 3.

It would be open to the parties to initiate fresh arbitration proceedings in accordance with law.

4.

As far as limitation is concerned, the period from the invocation of the arbitration till today be excluded in initiating fresh arbitration proceedings.

5.

Liberty to apply in the event there exists an express agreement in writing in terms of proviso to Section 12(5) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (the "said Act") waiving the ineligibility of the sole arbitrator or the right to object under Section 12(5) of the said Act. (ABHAY AHUJA, J.) Nikita Gadgil 2/2