M/S. VIJETA CONSTRUCTION versus M/S. INDUS SMELTERS LTD. & ANR.
[2021] 11 S.C.R. 798, Supreme Court of India, 2021
Outcome: Remitted to Lower Court
Segment: Ratio
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M/S. VIJETA CONSTRUCTION
v.
M/S. INDUS SMELTERS LTD. & ANR.
(Civil Appeal No. 5934 of 2021)
SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
[M. R. SHAH AND A. S. BOPANNA, JJ.]
Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006
– Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 – s.34 – Respondent’s case
that it supplied TMT bar to the appellant valuing Rs.2,44,92,846/-
out of which it received Rs.1,24,50,000/- – It was alleged that
appellant had not made the payment of the remaining amount –
Respondent approached the Chairman, Micro Small and Medium
Enterprises Facilitation Council – Facilitation Council closed the
proceedings by observing that Facilitation Council was constituted
with a limited object, jurisdiction and it had no jurisdiction to make
enquiry, take evidence and decide truth about the challenged
document – Writ petition by the respondent – The High Court
dismissed the writ petition by observing that order passed the
Facilitating Council can be said to be an award u/s.18 of the
MSMED Act and provision of Arbitration Act shall apply to the
dispute and such an order would be amenable to appeal u/s.34 of
the 1996 Act – On appeal, held: If there is any dispute between the
parties governed by the MSMED Act, the said dispute has to be
resolved through procedure prescribed u/s.18 of the MSMED Act –
As per sub-section (2) of s.18, on receipt of a reference under sub-
section (1), the Council shall have to resolve the
dispute through
Conciliation either by the Council itself or seek the assistance of
any institution or centre providing alternate dispute resolution (ADR)
services by making reference to such an institution or centre, for
conducting conciliation and the provisions of section 65 to 81 of
the Arbitration and Conciliation Act shall apply to such dispute as
if the conciliation was initiated under Part-III of the Arbitration Act
– If Conciliation initiated is not successful, it will stand terminated
without any settlement between the parties, the Council shall either
itself take up the dispute for arbitration or refer it to any institution
or centre providing ADR services for arbitration – In the instant
case, the Facilitating Council has not followed the procedure as
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was required to be followed u/s.18 of the MSMED Act r/w. ss.65 to
81 of the Arbitration Act – Once the Conciliation fails, the
arbitration proceedings commences and the Council as an arbitrator
shall have all the powers of the arbitrator as are available under
the provisions of the Arbitration Act – However, no such procedure
was followed – Therefore, matter is remitted to the Facilitation
Council to follow the procedure u/s.18 of the MSMED Act.
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No.5934 of
2021.
From the Judgment and Order dated 12.03.2012 of the High Court
of Chattisgarh at Bilaspur in W. P. No.418 of 2012.
Ms. Akanksha Sisodia, Anup Jain, Advs. for the Appellant.
Nitin Gaur, Ranjit Kumar Sharma, Advs. for the Respondents.
The Order of the Court was passed by
M. R. SHAH, J.
Delay condoned.
Leave granted.
1. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned judgment
and order dated 12.03.2012 passed by the High Court of Chhattisgarh at
Bilaspur in writ petition (c) No.418 of 2012, by which the High Court
has dismissed the said writ petition as not maintainable in view of remedy
available to the original petitioner under Section 34 of the Arbitration and
Conciliation Act, 1996 (hereinafter referred to as the Arbitration Act),
the original respondent No.1 has preferred the present civil appeal.
2. That the dispute arose between the parties which could not be
resolved. The case on behalf of the respondent herein was that it supplied
TMT bar to
the appellant herein valuing Rs.2,44,92,846/- out of which it
received Rs.1,24,50,000/-. The appellant had not made payment of the
remaining amount, therefore, the respondent being supplier approached
the Chairman, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Facilitation Council
(hereinafter referred to as the Facilitation Council) constituted under the
Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 (hereinafter
referred to as the MSMED Act) for small scale industries.
3. By order dated 10.01.2012 the Facilitation Council closed the
said proceedings by observing that Facilitation Council has been
constituted with limited object and jurisdiction and the Facilitation Council
M/S. VIJETA CONSTRUCTION v. M/S. INDUS SMELTERS LTD.
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has no jurisdiction to make thorough enquiry and take evidence and decide
truth about the challenged document. The Facilitation Council also
observed that parties are at liberty to move before the competent court.
4. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the order dated
10.01.2012, the respondent herein preferred writ petition (C) No.418 of
2012 before the High Court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur. By the impugned
order, the High Court has dismissed the said writ petition by observing
that order passed by the Facilitation Council rejecting the application
can be said to be an award under Section 18 of the MSMED Act and as
per Section 18 (2) and (3), the provision of the Arbitration Act shall
apply to the dispute as if the arbitration was in pursuance of an arbitration
agreement referred to Sub-Section (1) of Section 7 of the MSMED Act
and therefore such an order would be amenable to the appeal under
Section 34 of the Arbitration Act before the district court. Thus by the
impugned order the High Court has dismissed the said writ petition on
the ground of availability of an alternate remedy of filing an appeal against
the order passed by the Facilitation Council dated 10.01.2012.
5. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned order
passed by the High Court dismissing the writ petition preferred by the
respondent herein however holding that the order passed by the Facilitation
Council rejecting the application
can be said to be an award and therefore
as per the provision of the Arbitration Act shall apply to the dispute as if
the arbitration was in pursuance of an arbitration agreement referred to
Sub-Section (1) of Section (7) of the Arbitration Act and therefore against
such an order appeal under Section 34 of the Arbitration Act shall be
maintainable, the original respondent has preferred the present appeal.
6. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant has
vehemently submitted that in the facts and circumstances of the case
the order of the Facilitation Council impugned before the High Court
cannot be said to be an award as by such an order the Facilitation Council
did not conclusively settle the dispute and rejected the application simply
on the ground of jurisdiction and on the ground that the Facilitation Council
has no jurisdiction to make thorough enquiry and take evidence and decide
the truth about the challenged document.
6.1 It is submitted by the counsel appearing on behalf of the
appellant that therefore when the order passed by the Facilitation Council
impugned before the High Court cannot be said to be an award, the
same was not amenable to the appeal before the district court under
Section 34 of the Arbitration Act.
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7. Per contra learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
respondent – original applicant has vehemently submitted that the order
passed by the Facilitation Council rejecting the application can be said to
be an “award” and therefore such an order of rejecting the claim petition/
application before the Facilitation Council can be challenged before the
district court under Section 34 of the Arbitration Act.
7.1 It is further submitted that as such the Facilitation Council
was not justified in observing that it has no jurisdiction to make thorough
enquiry and take evidence and that the Facilitation Council has been
constituted with limited object and jurisdiction. Heavy reliance is placed
on Section 27 of the Arbitration Act. It is submitted that the Facilitation
Council has all the jurisdiction which are available to the Arbitrator under
the provisions of the Arbitration Act including taking the evidence.
8. We have heard the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
respective parties at length.
9. At the outset, it is required to be noted and it is not in dispute
that the parties are governed by the provisions of MSMED Act. As per
the MSMED Act if there is any dispute between the parties the dispute
is required to be resolved by following the procedure as prescribed under
Section 18 of the MSMED Act. It cannot be disputed that the MSMED
Act being a Special Act the procedure as prescribed under the MSMED
Act is required to be followed if there is any
dispute between the parties.
Section 15 of the MSMED Act provides for liability of the buyer to
make payment to micro small and medium enterprises. Section 16 of the
MSMED Act provides for the interest payable. Section 17 of the MSMED
Act provides for any goods supplied or services rendered by the supplier,
the buyer shall be liable to pay the amount with interest thereon as provided
under section 16. Section 18 of the MSMED Act provides for resolution
of the dispute between the supplier – micro and small enterprises and
the buyer. Section 19 of the MSMED Act further provides that no
application for setting aside any decree, award or other order made
either by the Council itself or by any institution or centre providing alternate
dispute resolution services to which a reference is made by the Council,
shall be entertained by any court unless the appellant (not being a supplier)
has deposited with it seventy-five per cent of the amount in terms of the
decree, award or, as the case may be, the other order in the manner
directed by such court.
M/S. VIJETA CONSTRUCTION v. M/S. INDUS SMELTERS LTD.
[M. R. SHAH, J.]
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Section 15 to Section 19 of the MSMED Act which are relevant
for our purpose read as under:-
15. Liability of buyer to make payment.—Where any supplier
supplies any goods or renders any services to any buyer, the buyer
shall make payment therefor on or before the date agreed upon
between him and the supplier in writing or, where there is no
agreement in this behalf, before the appointed day: Provided that
in no case the period agreed upon between the supplier and the
buyer in writing shall exceed forty-five days from the day of
acceptance or the day of deemed acceptance.
16. Date from which and rate at which interest is payable.—
Where any buyer fails to make payment of the amount to the
supplier, as required under section 15, the buyer shall,
notwithstanding anything contained in any agreement between
the buyer and the supplier or in any law for the time being in
force, be liable to pay compound interest with monthly rests to the
supplier on that amount from the appointed day or, as the case
may be, from the date immediately following the date agreed upon,
at three times of the bank rate notified by the Reserve Bank.
17. Recovery of amount due.—For any goods supplied or services
rendered by the supplier, the buyer shall be liable to pay the amount
with interest thereon as provided under section 16.
18. Reference to Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation
Council.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other
law for the time being in force, any party to a dispute may, with
regard to any amount due under section 17, make a reference to
the Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council. (2) On receipt
of a reference under sub-section (1), the Council shall either itself
conduct conciliation in the matter or seek the assistance of any
institution or centre providing alternate dispute resolution services
by making a reference to such an institution or centre, for
conducting conciliation and the provisions of sections 65 to 81 of
the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (26 of 1996) shall apply
to such a dispute as if the conciliation was initiated under Part III
of that Act. (3) Where the conciliation initiated under sub-section
(2) is not successful and stands terminated without any settlement
between the parties, the Council shall either itself take up the
dispute for arbitration or refer it to any institution or centre providing
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alternate dispute resolution services for such arbitration and the
provisions of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (26 of
1996) shall then apply to the dispute as if the arbitration was in
pursuance of an arbitration agreement referred to in sub-section
(1) of section 7 of that Act. (4) Notwithstanding anything contained
in any other law for the time being in force, the Micro and Small
Enterprises Facilitation Council or the centre providing alternate
dispute resolution services shall have jurisdiction to act as an
Arbitrator or Conciliator under this section in a dispute between
the supplier located within its jurisdiction and a buyer located
anywhere in India. (5) Every reference made under this section
shall be decided within a period of ninety days from the date of
making such a reference.
19. Application for setting aside decree, award or order.—No
application for setting aside any decree, award or other order
made either by the Council itself or by any institution or centre
providing alternate dispute resolution services to which a reference
is made by the Council, shall be entertained by any court unless
the appellant (not being a supplier) has deposited with it seventy-
five per cent. of the amount in terms of the decree, award or, as
the case may be, the other order in the manner directed by such
court: Provided that pending disposal of the application to set aside
the decree, award or order, the court shall order that such
percentage of
the amount deposited shall be paid to the supplier,
as it considers reasonable under the circumstances of the case,
subject to such conditions as it deems necessary to impose.
9.1 Therefore as per the scheme of the MSMED Act when there
is a dispute between the micro and small enterprises – supplier and
buyer, the same is required to be resolved by following the procedure as
prescribed under Section 18 of the MSMED Act, reproduced
hereinabove. As observed hereinabove, the MSMED Act is a Special
Act and as per Section 24 of the MSMED Act, the provisions of Section
15 to 23 shall have overriding effect notwithstanding inconsistent therewith
contained in any other law for the time being in force. Therefore, Section
18 of the MSMED Act would have overriding effect over any other law
for the time being in force including the Arbitration Act (to the extent
inconsistent) and therefore if there is any dispute between the parties
governed by the MSMED Act the said dispute has to be resolved only
through the procedure as provided under Section 18 of the MSMED
M/S. VIJETA CONSTRUCTION v. M/S. INDUS SMELTERS LTD.
[M. R. SHAH, J.]
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Act. As per Sub-Section (1) of Section 18, notwithstanding anything
contained in any other law for the time being in force, any party to a
dispute may, with regard to any amount due under section 17, may
approach by way of a reference/application to the Micro and Small
Enterprises Facilitation Council. As per Sub-Section (2) of Section 18,
on receipt of a reference under sub-section (1), the Council shall have
to resolve the dispute through conciliation either by the Council itself or
seek the assistance of any institution or centre providing alternate dispute
resolution (ADR) services by making a reference to such an institution
or centre, for conducting conciliation and the provisions of sections 65 to
81 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 shall apply to such a
dispute as if the conciliation was initiated under Part III of the Arbitration
Act. Thus at the stage of conciliation the council/conciliator have to
bear in mind the provisions of sections 65 to 81 of the Arbitration Act,
which read as under:-
 “65. Submission of statements to conciliator.—(1) The conciliator,
upon his appointment, may request each party to submit to him a
brief written statement describing the general nature of the dispute
and the points at issue. Each party shall send a copy of such
statement to the other party (2) The conciliator may request each
party to submit to him a further written statement of his position
and the facts
and grounds in support thereof, supplemented by
any documents and other evidence that such party deems
appropriate. The party shall send a copy of such statement,
documents and other evidence to the other party. (3) At any stage
of the conciliation proceedings, the conciliator may request a party
to submit to him such additional information as he deems
appropriate. Explanation.—In this section and all the following
sections of this Part, the term “conciliator” applies to a sole
conciliator, two or three conciliators, as the case may be.
66. Conciliator not bound by certain enactments.—The conciliator
is not bound by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908)or
the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872).
67. Role of conciliator.—(1) The conciliator shall assist the parties
in an independent and impartial manner in their attempt to reach
an amicable settlement of their dispute. (2) The conciliator shall
be guided by principles of objectivity, fairness and justice, giving
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consideration to, among other things, the rights and obligations of
the parties, the usages of the trade concerned and the
circumstances surrounding the dispute, including any previous
business practices between the parties. (3) The conciliator may
conduct the conciliation proceedings in such a manner as he
considers appropriate, taking into account the circumstances of
the case, the wishes the parties may express, including any request
by a party that the conciliator hear oral statements, and the need
for a speedy settlement of the dispute. (4) The conciliator may, at
any stage of the conciliation proceedings, make proposals for a
settlement of the dispute. Such proposals need not be in writing
and need not be accompanied by a statement of the reasons
therefor.
68. Administrative assistance.—In order to facilitate the conduct
of the conciliation proceedings, the parties, or the conciliator with
the consent of the parties, may arrange for administrative assistance
by a suitable institution or person.
69. Communication between conciliator and parties.—(1) The
conciliator may invite the parties to meet him or may communicate
with them orally or in writing. He may meet or communicate with
the parties together or with each of them separately. (2) Unless
the parties have agreed upon the place where meetings with the
conciliator are to be held, such place shall be determined by the
conciliator, after consultation with the parties, having regard to
the
circumstances of the conciliation proceedings.
70. Disclosure of information.—When the conciliator receives
factual information concerning the dispute from a party, he shall
disclose the substance of that information to the other party in
order that the other party may have the opportunity to present
any explanation which he considers appropriate: Provided that
when a party gives any information to the conciliator subject to a
specific condition that it be kept confidential, the conciliator shall
not disclose that information to the other party.
71. Co-operation of parties with conciliator.—The parties shall in
good faith co-operate with the conciliator and, in particular, shall
endeavour to comply with requests by the conciliator to submit
written materials, provide evidence and attend meetings.
M/S. VIJETA CONSTRUCTION v. M/S. INDUS SMELTERS LTD.
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72. Suggestions by parties for settlement of dispute.—Each party
may, on his own initiative or at the invitation of the conciliator,
submit to the conciliator suggestions for the settlement of the
dispute.
73. Settlement agreement.—(1) When it appears to the conciliator
that there exist elements of a settlement which may be acceptable
to the parties, he shall formulate the terms of a possible settlement
and submit them to the parties for their observations. After
receiving the observations of the parties, the conciliator may
reformulate the terms of a possible settlement in the light of such
observations. (2) If the parties reach agreement on a settlement
of the dispute, they may draw up and sign a written settlement
agreement. If requested by the parties, the conciliator may draw
up, or assist the parties in drawing up, the settlement agreement.
(3) When the parties sign the settlement agreement, it shall be
final and binding on the parties and persons claiming under them
respectively. (4) The conciliator shall authenticate the settlement
agreement and furnish a copy thereof to each of the parties.
74. Status and effect of settlement agreement.—The settlement
agreement shall have the same status and effect as if it is an
arbitral award on agreed terms on the substance of the dispute
rendered by an arbitral tribunal under section 30.
75. Confidentiality.—Notwithstanding anything contained in any
other law for the
time being in force, the conciliator and the parties
shall keep confidential all matters relating to the conciliation
proceedings. Confidentiality shall extend also to the settlement
agreement, except where its disclosure is necessary for purposes
of implementation and enforcement.
76. Termination of conciliation proceedings.—The conciliation
proceedings shall be terminated— (a) by the signing of the
settlement agreement by the parties, on the date of the agreement;
or (b) by a written declaration of the conciliator, after consultation
with the parties, to the effect that further efforts at conciliation
are no longer justified, on the date of the declaration; or (c) by a
written declaration of the parties addressed to the conciliator to
the effect that the conciliation proceedings are terminated, on the
date of the declaration; or (d) by a written declaration of a party
to the other party and the conciliator, if appointed, to the effect
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that the conciliation proceedings are terminated, on the date of
the declaration.
77. Resort to arbitral or judicial proceedings.—The parties shall
not initiate, during the conciliation proceedings, any arbitral or
judicial proceedings in respect of a dispute that is the subject-
matter of the conciliation proceedings except that a party may
initiate arbitral or judicial proceedings where, in his opinion, such
proceedings are necessary for preserving his rights.
78. Costs.—(1) Upon termination of the conciliation proceedings,
the conciliator shall fix the costs of the conciliation and give written
notice thereof to the parties. (2) For the purpose of sub-section
(1), “costs” means reasonable costs relating to— (a) the fee and
expenses of the conciliator and witnesses requested by the
conciliator with the consent of the parties; (b) any expert advice
requested by the conciliator with the consent of the parties; (c)
any assistance provided pursuant to clause (b) of sub-section (2)
of section 64 and section 68. (d) any other expenses incurred in
connection with the conciliation proceedings and the settlement
agreement. (3) The costs shall be borne equally by the parties
unless the settlement agreement provides for a different
apportionment. All other expenses incurred by a party shall be
borne by that party.
79. Deposits.—(1) The conciliator may direct each party to deposit
an equal amount as an advance for the costs referred to in sub-
section(2) of section
78 which he expects will be incurred. (2)
During the course of the conciliation proceedings, the conciliator
may direct supplementary deposits in an equal amount from each
party. (3) If the required deposits under sub-sections (1) and (2)
are not paid in full by both parties within thirty days, the conciliator
may suspend the proceedings or may make a written declaration
of termination of the proceedings to the parties, effective on the
date of that declaration. (4) Upon termination of the conciliation
proceedings, the conciliator shall render an accounting to the parties
of the deposits received and shall return any unexpended balance
to the parties.
80. Role of conciliator in other proceedings.—Unless otherwise
agreed by the parties,—
M/S. VIJETA CONSTRUCTION v. M/S. INDUS SMELTERS LTD.
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(a) the conciliator shall not act as an arbitrator or as a representative
or counsel of a party in any arbitral or judicial proceeding in respect
of a dispute that is the subject of the conciliation proceedings; (b)
the conciliator shall not be presented by the parties as a witness in
any arbitral or judicial proceedings.
81. Admissibility of evidence in other proceedings.—The parties
shall not rely on or introduce as evidence in arbitral or judicial
proceedings, whether or not such proceedings relate to the dispute
that is the subject of the conciliation proceedings,— (a) views
expressed or suggestions made by the other party in respect of a
possible settlement of the dispute; (b) admissions made by the
other party in the course of the conciliation proceedings; (c)
proposals made by the conciliator; (d) the fact that the other party
had indicated his willingness to accept a proposal for settlement
made by the conciliator.”
9.2 As per Sub-Section (3) of Section 18 after conciliation fails
under Sub-Section (2) of Section 18 of the MSMED Act, and conciliation
initiated under sub-section (2) is not successful, conciliation stands
terminated without any settlement between the parties, the Council shall
either itself take up the dispute for arbitration or refer it to any institution
or centre providing ADR services for such arbitration and the provisions
of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 shall then apply to
the dispute
as if the arbitration was in pursuance of an arbitration agreement referred
to in sub-section (1) of section 7 of that Act. Therefore only after the
procedure under Sub-Section (2) of Section 18 is followed and the
conciliation fails and then and then only the arbitration proceedings
commences and thereafter the provisions of the Arbitration Act shall
then apply.
9.3 In light of the aforesaid statutory provisions under the MSMED
Act as well as the Arbitration Act, the order passed by the Facilitation
Council dated 10.01.2012 which was the subject matter before the High
Court is required to be tested. From the order passed by the Facilitation
Council rejecting/dismissing the reference/application and the stage at
which such an order was passed we are of the opinion that the Facilitation
Council has not followed the procedure as was required to be followed
under Section 18 of the MSMED Act read with Sections 65 to 81 of the
Arbitration Act, as reproduced hereinabove. It is required to be noted
that at the initial stage the Facilitation Council was performing the duty
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as a Conciliator for which the provisions of Sections 65 to 81 shall be
applicable. It is true that at the stage of conciliation, the role of the
conciliator (Facilitation Council) is to assist the parties to reach an
amicable settlement of their dispute as provided under Section 67 of the
Arbitration Act. At that stage the parties are not required to lead the
evidence and at that stage the role of the conciliator is not to adjudicate
the dispute between the parties, but to reach an amicable settlement of
the dispute between the parties. Once the conciliation fails thereafter as
per Sub-Section (3) of Section 18 of the MSMED Act, the arbitration
proceedings commences and the conciliation proceedings stands
terminated and thereafter the Facilitation Council shall either itself take
up the dispute for arbitration or refer it to any institution or centre providing
ADR services for such arbitration and the provisions of the Arbitration
Act shall then apply to the dispute as if the arbitration is in pursuance of
an arbitration agreement referred to Sub-Section (1) of Section 7 of the
Arbitration Act. At that stage and thereafter the Facilitation Council
shall act as an Arbitrator and the provisions of Arbitration Act shall then
apply to the dispute as if arbitration was in pursuance of an arbitration
agreement referred to Sub-Section (1) of Section 7 of the Arbitration
Act including the appeal under Section 34 to the district court against the
award declared
by the Facilitation Council or any institution or centre
providing alternate dispute resolution (ADR) services to whom the dispute
is referred for arbitration.
10. In the present case no such procedure has been followed by
the Facilitation Council as required to be followed under Section 18 of
the MSMED Act. It is to be noted that the proceedings before the
Facilitation Council/Conciliator was at the stage of conciliation. It is true
that at the stage of conciliation under Sub-Section (2) of Section 18, the
conciliator (Facilitation Council) was not required to permit the parties
to lead the evidence and adjudicate the dispute. At the same time, if
there was no amicable settlement during the conciliation or under Sub-
Section (2) of Section 18 then the arbitration proceedings were required
to be initiated as provided under Sub-Section (3) of Section 18 which
have not been initiated in the present case. Therefore, as such, the matter
is required to be remitted to the Facilitation Council to follow the procedure
under Section 18 of the MSMED Act by quashing and setting aside the
order dated 10.01.2012 passed by the Facilitation Council as well as the
impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court in writ petition
No.418 of 2012.
M/S. VIJETA CONSTRUCTION v. M/S. INDUS SMELTERS LTD.
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11. Now so far as the observations made by the Facilitation
Council, Chhattisgarh, Raipur in order dated 10.01.2012 that the
Facilitation Council has been constituted with limited object and jurisdiction
and the council has no jurisdiction to make thorough enquiry and to take
evidence is concerned, the aforesaid cannot be accepted. As per the
scheme of the MSMED Act, the Facilitation Council has a dual role to
play, one as a Conciliator as per Sub-Section (2) of Section 18 and
thereafter in case the conciliation is unsuccessful as an Arbitrator as per
Sub-Section (3) of Section 18. As a Conciliator the role of the Conciliator
- Facilitation Council is, as observed hereinabove, to assist the parties in
an independent and impartial manner in their attempt to reach an amicable
settlement of their dispute and at that stage the Facilitation Council is not
required to adjudicate the dispute. At that stage the Facilitation Council
has no jurisdiction to make thorough enquiry and take evidence. However,
once the conciliation fails and the settlement is not arrived at during the
conciliation and thereafter when the arbitration proceedings commences
as per Sub-Section (3) of Section 18, the Council as an arbitrator shall
have all the powers of the arbitrator as are available under the provisions
of the Arbitration Act. Therefore the Facilitation Council is not right in
observing that the council has no jurisdiction to make
thorough enquiry
and take evidence and that the council has been constituted with limited
object and jurisdiction.
12. In view of the above and for the reasons stated above, the
order passed by the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Facilitation
Council, Chhattisgarh, Raipur dated 10.01.2012 in case No.26/MSTFC/
2009 as well as the impugned judgment and order passed by the High
Court in writ petition (c) No.418 of 2012 are hereby quashed and set
aside. Matter is remitted to the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises
Facilitation Council, Chhattisgarh, Raipur to decide case No. 26/MSTFC/
2009 afresh in accordance with law and on its own merits after following
the procedure as required under Section 18 of the MSMED Act and as
per the observations made hereinabove. As the dispute is very old, the
Facilitation Council is directed to complete the proceedings within a period
of six months from the date of receipt of this order. There shall be no
order as to costs.
Pending applications, if any stand disposed of.
Ankit Gyan
Matter remitted back.