87.
(SC) 10-03-2021
A. Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (26 of 1996), Section 11, 29-A, 43 -- Limitation Act, 1963 (36 of 1963), Section 43, Article 137 -- Appointment of Arbitrator -- Limitation of 3 years – No provision in Arbitration Act specifying period of limitation for filing an application u/s 11 of the Act -- One would have to take recourse to the Limitation Act, 1963, as per Section 43 of the Arbitration Act and it would be covered by the residual provision Article 137 of the Limitation Act, 1963 -- Section 29A mandates that the arbitral tribunal will conclude the proceedings within a period of 18 months -- In view of the legislative intent, the period of 3 years for filing an application u/s 11 would run contrary to the scheme of the Act -- It would be necessary for Parliament to effect an amendment to Section 11, prescribing a specific period of limitation within which a party may move the court for making an application for appointment of the arbitration under Section 11 of the 1996 Act.
(Para 9, 10, 13-17)
B. Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (26 of 1996), Section 11(6A), 16 -- Objection to arbitration -- Preliminary objections – Jurisdiction of – Doctrine of kompetenz-komptenz -- Court is required only to examine the existence of the arbitration agreement -- All other preliminary or threshold issues are left to be decided by the arbitrator u/s 16 -- 2019 Amendment Act has deleted sub-section (6A) in Section 11, however, the same is yet to be notified -- Consequently, sub-section (6A) continues to remain on the statute book, and governs the scope of power under Section 11 for the present.
(Para 26)
C. Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (26 of 1996), Section 11 -- Issue of Limitation – Jurisdiction of Arbitration Tribunal -- Issue of limitation, in essence, goes to the maintainability or admissibility of the claim, which is to be decided by the arbitral tribunal as a preliminary issue, or at the final stage after evidence is led by the parties.
(Para 32-35)
D. Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (26 of 1996), Section 11 -- Issue of Limitation – Time-barred claim – Power of Court – Scope of -- It is only in the very limited category of cases, where there is not even a vestige of doubt that the claim is ex facie time-barred, or that the dispute is non-arbitrable, that the court may decline to make the reference -- However, if there is even the slightest doubt, the rule is to refer the disputes to arbitration, otherwise it would encroach upon what is essentially a matter to be determined by the tribunal.
(Para 37)
E. Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (26 of 1996), Section 11 -- Issue of limitation -- Notice invoking arbitration was issued 5 ½ years after rejection of the claims -- Consequently, the notice invoking arbitration is ex facie time barred, and the disputes between the parties cannot be referred to arbitration in the facts of the case -- Application filed u/s 11 dismissed.
(Para 38-41)
F. Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (26 of 1996), Section 11 -- Limitation Act, 1963 (36 of 1963), Section 5 to 20 -- Arbitration of dispute -- Period of limitation for issuing notice of arbitration would not get extended by mere exchange of letters or mere settlement discussions, where a final bill is rejected by making deductions or otherwise -- Sections 5 to 20 of the Limitation Act do not exclude the time taken on account of settlement discussions -- There must be a clear notice invoking arbitration setting out the “particular dispute” (including claims / amounts) which must be received by the other party within a period of 3 years from the rejection of a final bill, failing which, the time bar would prevail.
(Para 39)
G. Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (26 of 1996), Section 11 -- Limitation Act, 1963 (36 of 1963), Section 43, Article 137 -- Limitation for Arbitration -- Period of limitation for filing an application u/s 11 would be governed by Article 137 of the First Schedule of the Limitation Act, 1963 -- Period of limitation will begin to run from the date when there is failure to appoint the arbitrator -- It has been suggested that the Parliament may consider amending Section 11 of the 1996 Act to provide a period of limitation for filing an application under this provision, which is in consonance with the object of expeditious disposal of arbitration proceedings; -- In rare and exceptional cases, where the claims are ex facie time-barred, and it is manifest that there is no subsisting dispute, the Court may refuse to make the reference.
(Para 40)