Roshan Transport Throughits Proprietor Rahul Dilip Kunjir v. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ARBITRATION PETITION NO.222 OF 2025 M/s Roshan Transport ....Petitioner

Versus

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited ....Respondent Mr. Om N. Latpate a/w. Prasad Jichkar, for Petitioner. Mr. Rahul Pillai a/w. Amol Bavare & R.V. Pawar i/b. Pragnya Legal, for Respondent-BPCL.

CORAM: SOMASEKHAR SUNDARESAN, J.

DATE : DECEMBER 02, 2025 ORDER :

1.

This Petition has been filed under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 ("the Act"), seeking appointment of an arbitrator in connection with disputes and differences that are said to have arisen between the parties under an Agreement dated February 2, 2022 ("Agreement"). The arbitration agreement is contained in Clause 16(a) (Found at Page No. 28 of the Petition) of the Agreement. In the interest of brevity, the arbitration agreement is not being extracted here. Suffice it to say that this matter falls within the jurisdiction of this Court.

by AARTI GAJANAN PALKAR Date:

2025.12.06 14:25:15 +0530 AARTI GAJANAN PALKAR

2.

It is apparent from the record that the arbitration agreement was invoked by the Petitioner on December 10, 2024. A reply dated February 10, 2025 is filed to the said invocation. The existence of the arbitration agreement is not in doubt.

3.

One of the grounds for opposition is that criminal proceedings in connection with activity under the Agreement are underway. It is settled law that the existence of criminal proceedings by itself will not render the matter non-arbitrable. Should any grievance of this nature need to be raised, the same may be done under Section 16 of the Act. 4.

The scope of review under Section 11 is explicitly set out in Section 11(6A) of the Act. It is now trite law, with particular regard to the decisions of a seven-judge bench in the Interplay Judgement1 followed by multiple others, including SBI General2 and Patel3 that the Section 11 Court ought not to venture beyond examining the existence of a validly existing arbitration agreement that has been formally executed. Even questions of existential substance is a matter that falls squarely in the domain of the arbitral tribunal, in view of Section 16 of the Act.

5.

Being satisfied that an arbitration agreement is validly in existence, and that arbitration has been duly invoked, it is in the fitness 1 In Re: Interplay Between Arbitration Agreement under Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 and Stamp Act, 1899 - (2024) 6 SCC 1 2 SBI General Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Krish Spinning - 2024 SCC OnLine 1974 3 Ajay Madhusudan Patel Vs. Jyotindra S. Patel - 2024 SCC OnLine, 2597

of things to refer the disputes and differences between the parties in connection with the aforesaid agreement to arbitration by a Sole Arbitrator.

6.

In these circumstances, this Petition is hereby finally disposed of, in terms of the following order:

A] Presolv360, an independent online dispute resolution institution is directed to appoint a sole arbitrator to adjudicate upon the disputes and differences between the parties arising out of and in connection with the Agreement referred to above and administer the same;

B] The contact particulars of the Director, Presolv360 are set out below :- Email id : info@presolv360.com Contact No.

: +91-9820167337 Address : 1st Floor, Esperanca Building, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Colaba, Mumbai - 400 001.

Website : www.presolv360.com C] A copy of this Order will be communicated to Presolv360 by the Advocates for the Applicant within a period of one week from the date on which this order is uploaded on the website of this Court. The Applicant shall provide the contact and communication particulars of the parties to Presolv360 along with a copy of this Order; D] It is clarified that Presolv360 being an ODR

institution, all proceedings will be conducted online through electronic mode, unless otherwise agreed between the appointed Arbitrator and the parties, with appropriate notification to the administration of Presolv360. E] The administration of Presolv360 is requested to appoint an independent arbitrator in compliance with the Act and its own rules consistent with the Act as soon as possible and in any event within a period of two weeks from receipt of a copy of this Order;

F] The parties shall provide a valid and functional email address along with mobile and landline numbers of the respective Advocates of the parties to the administration of Presolv360 and any other particulars as reasonably requested by the administration. Communications to such email addresses shall constitute valid service of correspondence in connection with the arbitration;

G] All arbitral costs and fees of the arbitration shall be borne by the parties equally in the first instance, and shall be subject to any final Award that may be passed by the Tribunal in relation to costs; and H] The seat of the arbitration shall be deemed to be the same as the seat discernible from the Agreement while the arbitration shall primarily be conducted online. 7.

Needless to say, nothing contained in this order is an expression of an opinion on merits of the matter or the relative strength of the

parties. All issues on merits are expressly kept open to be agitated before the arbitral tribunal appointed hereby. 8.

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.

[ SOMASEKHAR SUNDARESAN, J.]