Au Small Finance Bank Ltd. v. Pranav Tours And Travels Umpati Yadav And Another

KVM 1/2 6 - EXA 1791 OF 2022.doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

by KANCHAN VINOD MAYEKAR Date:

2026.04.20 11:37:59 +0530 KANCHAN VINOD MAYEKAR ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION EXECUTION APPLICATION NO. 1791/2022 ALONGWITH INTERIM APPLICATION NO. 1256/2024 IN EXECUTION APPLICATION NO.1791/2022 AU SMALL FINANCE BANK LTD.

..... APPLICANT VS PRANAV TOURS AND TRAVELS UMPATI YADAV AND ANOTHER ..... RESPONDENTS None for the Applicant.

None for the Respondents.

CORAM : RAJESH S. PATIL, J.

DATE : 18 APRIL, 2026 P.C. :- 1) None appears for the applicant when the matter is called out.

2) From the proceedings, it can be gathered that the appointment of the sole arbitrator was unilateral. 3) I have taken a view in the judgment of L & T Finance Ltd. vs. Sangeeta Bhansali & Anr. in Commercial Execution Application (L) No. 5277 of 2022, considering the latest judgment of the Supreme

KVM 2/2 6 - EXA 1791 OF 2022.doc Court decided on 5 January, 2026, in the matter of Bhadra International (India) Pvt. Ltd. and others vs. Airport Authority of India, Civil Appeal No. 37-38 of 2026, wherein it has been held that even at the stage of execution, an arbitral award can be set aside being void-ab-initio on the grounds that the appointment of the arbitrator was unilateral.

4) In view of the aforesaid judgment, the arbitral award in the present proceeding passed by the sole arbitrator is hereby declared to be non-est in law, non-executable and void-ab-initio. 5) Execution Application stands dismissed.

6) In sequel, the Interim Applications, if any, also stand disposed of.

7) It shall be open for the parties to initiate fresh arbitration proceedings in accordance with law.

8) As far as limitation is concerned, the period from the invocation of the arbitration till today shall stand excluded for the purpose of initiating fresh arbitration proceedings. (RAJESH S. PATIL, J.)