Arbitration in the Supreme Court of India: 2011

In this post, we list out the most noteworthy judgements of the Supreme Court of India on arbitration in 2011. We’ll list out each judgement and give links to descriptive comments/ critique on each of the cases.

1) State of Maharashtra v. Ark Builders  (28.02.2011)

Question: When does the limitation period prescribed in Section 34(3) start running?

Comments: Practical Academic (descriptive)

2) Booz Allen & Hamilton v SBI Home Finance (15.04.2011)

Question: Arbitrability of actions in rem.

Comments: Vinod Kothari (on how the judgement affects the asset recovery market- don’t miss this one- critique); MyLaw (descriptive & critique); Lex Arbitri (descriptive); Nishith Desai & Associates- Dispute Resolution Hotline (descriptive); Indian Corporate Law (descriptive); Practical Academic in Two Parts- Part I & Part II (descriptive);

3) Union of India v. Tantia Constructions (18.04.2011)

Issues: Exercise of powers under Article 226 in contractual matters despite arbitration agreement

Comments: Indian Corporate Law (descriptive); Money Control (descriptive); Lex Arbitri (descriptive); Nishith Desai Hotline (descriptive); Practical Academic (critique)

4) Videocon Industries v. Union of India (11.05.2011)

Issues: Exclusion of Part I & Transfer of Seat

Comments: Sumit Rai [(2011) 14 Int Arb L Rev      ] (descriptive & critique); Indian Corporate Law (descriptive); Lex Arbitri (descriptive & critique); Practice Source- Kluwer Law International (descriptive); Practical Academic (Part I, Part II & Part III) (descriptive & Critique)

5) State of Goa v. Praveen Enterprises (04.07.2011)

Issues: Whether it is necessary to raise counter-claims in proceedings under Section 11 to entitle the Respondent to raise them in the arbitraiton?

Comments: Indian Corporate Law (descriptive); MyLaw (descriptive); Nishith Desai Hotline (descriptive); Practical Academic (descriptive)

6) Fuerst Day Lawson v. Jindal Exports (08.07.2011)

Issue: Maintenance of letters patent appeal in the absence of explicit right under the Act

Comments: Indian Corporate Law (descriptive)

7) SMS Tea Estates Pvt. Ltd. v.Chandmari Tea Company Pvt. Ltd. (20.07.2011)

Issues: Validity of unstamped and Unregistered Deeds containing arbitration clauses

Comments: International Law Office (descriptive); The In-House Lawyer (descriptive) Nishith Desai Hotline (descriptive); Indian Corporate Law (descriptive); Practical Academic (critique)

8) Bharat Rasiklal Ashra v. Gautam Rasiklal Ashra (25.08.2011)

Issue: Allocation of the right to decide the question as to validity of an arbitration agreement alleged to have been vitiated by forgery or fabrication.  

Comments: Lex Arbitri (Critique); The Legal Blog (descriptive)

9) Yograj Infrastructure v Ssangyong Engineering (I) (01.09.2011) & Yograj Infrastructure v. Ssangyong (II) (15.12.2011)

Issue: Implied Exclusion of Part I of the Act           

Comments: Indian Corporate Law (descriptive & critique) Practical Academic (Part I, Part II); Practical Academic (descriptive) (on Yograj II)

10) Phulchand Exports Ltd. v. OOO Patriot (12.10.2011)

Issue: Whether enforcement of the foreign award would contravene public policy of India as per Section 48(2)(b) of the Act?

Comments: Lex Arbitri (critique) CIS Arbitration Forum (critique); Practical Academic (descriptive & critique)

11) PR Shah, Shares & Stock Broker (P) Ltd. v. BHH Securities (P) Ltd. & Ors. (14.10.2011)

Issue: Consolidation of arbitration

Comments: Indian Corporate Law (critique); Lex Arbitri (descriptive); Practical Academic (descriptive)

In case we have missed out on any case, please let us know.