Case: Jaipur Zila Dugdh Utpadak Sahkari Sangh Limited &amp; Ors Vs. M/s Ajay Sales &amp; Suppliers &amp; Ors

2. For the sake of convenience, the facts in SLP (C) No.13520 of 2021 are narrated and SLP (C) No.13520 of 2021 be treated as a lead matter.3. On 31.03.2015, the respondent herein and the Sahkari Sangh entered into Distributorship Agreement for the distribution of milk and butter milk in certain zones in Jaipur, which was for a period of two years. The dispute arose between the parties. Clause 13 of the distributorship agreement provided for resolution of disputes. Clause 13 contains an arbitration clause and it provides that all disputes and differences arising out of or in any way touching or concerning the agreement, whatsoever shall be referred to the sole Arbitrator, the Chairman, Jaipur Zila Dugdh Utpadak Sahkari Sangh Ltd. and his decision shall be final and binding for the parties. On 18.08.2018, the respondent made representation pointing out his grievance/dispute. Vide letter dated 22.08.2018, the respondent herein – original applicant was advised to raise dispute before the Sole Arbitrator/Chairman. That on 19.10.2019, the respondent firm/original applicant approached the Sole Arbitrator as per Clause 13 of the Agreement dated 31.03.2015 i.e. the Chairman, Jaipur Zila Dugdh Utpadak Sahkari Sangh Ltd. for settlement of a commercial dispute between the parties. That during the pendency of the arbitration proceedings before the Chairman – Sole Arbitrator, the respondent herein – firm approached the High Court for appointment of an arbitrator in exercise of powers under Section 11 of the Act and invoking the arbitration contained in clause 13 of the Agreement dated 31.03.2015. The said application was opposed by the petitioners herein. It was submitted that once the respondent – firm approached the Chairman – Sole Arbitrator for resolving the dispute between the parties invoking Clause 13 of the Agreement dated 31.03.2015 and having participated in the arbitration proceedings thereafter it is not open for it to approach the High Court to appoint an arbitrator under Section 11 of the Act. It was also submitted on behalf of the petitioners that the Agreement dated 31.03.2015 was prior to the amendment of Section 12/insertion of Section 12 (5) of the Act and the contract was entered into between the parties before insertion of Sub-section (5) of Section 12 by amendment of Act, 2015 read with Seventh Schedule to the Act, Sub-section (5) of Section 12 read with Seventh Schedule to the Act shall not be applicable and the Chairman continues to be the sole arbitrator as per Clause 13. That thereafter by the impugned order and considering the Sub-section (5) of Section 12 read with Seventh Schedule to the Act, the High Court has allowed the said application and has appointed the former District and Sessions Judge to act as an arbitrator. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned order passed by the High Court appointing a fresh Arbitrator in exercise of powers under Section 11 of the Arbitration Act, Sahkari Sangh has preferred the present petitions.

Court's reasoning:
6. It is not in dispute that distributorship agreement between the parties was dated 31.03.2015 i.e. prior to the insertion of Sub-section (5) of Section 12 and Seventh Schedule to the Act w.e.f. 23.10.2015. It also cannot be disputed that Clause 13 of the Agreement dated 31.03.2015 contained the arbitration clause and as per Clause 13, any dispute and differences arising out of or in any way touching or concerning distributorship agreement shall be resolved through arbitration. As per Clause 13 such a dispute shall be referred to the sole Arbitrator – the Chairman, Sahkari Sangh.6.3 So far as the submission on behalf of the petitioners that the agreement was prior to the insertion of Sub-section (5) of Section 12 read with Seventh Schedule to the Act and therefore the disqualification under Sub-section (5) of Section 12 read with Seventh Schedule to the Act shall not be applicable and that once an arbitrator – Chairman started the arbitration proceedings thereafter the High Court is not justified in appointing an arbitrator are concerned the aforesaid has no substance and can to be accepted in view of the decision of this Court in Trf Ltd vs Energo Engineering Projects Ltd, (2017) 8 SCC 377 ; Bharat Broadband Network Limited vs United Telecoms Limited, (2019) 5 SCC 755 ; Voestalpine Schienen GMBH vs. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited, (2017) 4 SCC 665.  In the aforesaid decisions this Court had an occasion to consider in detail the object and purpose of insertion of Sub- section (5) of Section 12 read with Seventh Schedule to the Act. In the case of Voestalpine Schienen GMBH (Supra) it is observed and held by this Court that the main purpose for amending the provision was to provide for neutrality of arbitrators. It is further observed that in order to achieve this, Sub-section (5) of Section 12 lays down that notwithstanding any prior agreement to the contrary, any person whose relationship with the parties or counsel or the subject-matter of the dispute falls under any of the categories specified in the Seventh Schedule, he shall be ineligible to be appointed as an arbitrator. It is further observed that in such an eventuality i.e. when the arbitration clause finds foul with the amended provisions (Sub-section (5) of Section 12 read with Seventh Schedule) the appointment of an arbitrator would be beyond pale of the arbitration agreement, empowering the court to appoint such arbitrator as may be permissible. It is further observed that, that would be the effect of non obstante clause contained in sub-section (5) of Section 12 and the other party cannot insist on appointment of the arbitrator in terms of the arbitration agreement.7. In the case of Bharat Broadband Network Limited (Supra), it is observed that Sub-section (5) of Section 12 read with Seventh Schedule made it clear that if the arbitrator falls in any one of the categories specified in the Seventh Schedule, he becomes ineligible to act as an arbitrator. It is further observed that once he becomes ineligible, it is clear that he then become dejure unable to perform his functions inasmuch as in law, he is regarded as ineligible. It further is observed in the said decision that where a person becomes ineligible to be appointed as an arbitrator there is no question of challenge to such arbitrator before such arbitrator in such a case i.e. a case which falls under Section 14(1)(a) of the Act gets attracted inasmuch as the arbitrator becomes, as a matter of law (i.e., de jure), unable to perform his functions under Section12(5), being ineligible to be appointed as an arbitrator and this being so, his mandate automatically terminates, and he shall then be substituted by another arbitrator.7.1 Now so far as the submission on behalf of the petitioners that in view of Section 58 of the Rajasthan Cooperative Societies Act, 2001, the dispute between the parties is to be resolved by the Registrar only and as per Bye Laws 30 of Rajasthan Cooperative Societies Act, 2001 shall be applicable and therefore no court shall have jurisdiction and therefore the dispute referred to the former District Judge is unsustainable has no substance. It cannot be disputed that Arbitration Act is a special Act. Even Sub-section (5) of Section 12 also states with non obstante clause. In the distributorship agreement dated 31.03.2015, there is a provision to resolve dispute through arbitration. Despite Section 58 of the Rajasthan Cooperative Societies Act, 2001, there is an agreement between the parties to resolve the dispute through arbitrator – Chairman. Parties are bound by the agreement and the arbitration clause contained in the Agreement dated 31.03.2015. Therefore, neither Section 58 of the Rajasthan Cooperative Societies Act, 2001 shall not be applicable at all nor the same shall come in the way of appointing the arbitrator under the Arbitration Act.The aforesaid has no substance at all. Disqualification/ineligible under Sub-section (5) of Section 12 read with Seventh Schedule to the Act is to be read as a whole and considering the object and purpose for which Sub-section (5) of Section 12 read with Seventh Schedule to the Act came to be inserted. Sub-section (5) of Section 12 read with Seventh Schedule has been inserted bearing in mind the impartiality and independence of the arbitrators. It has been inserted with the purpose of neutrality of arbitrators. Independence and impartiality of the arbitrators are the hallmarks of any arbitration proceedings as observed in the case of Voestalpine Schienen (Supra). Rule against bias is one of the fundamental principles of natural justice which apply to all judicial proceedings and quasi-judicial proceedings and it is for this reason that despite the contractually agreed upon, the persons mentioned in Sub-section (5) of Section 12 read with Seventh Schedule to the Act would render himself ineligible to conduct the arbitration. In paragraphs 20 to 22 in the case of Voestalpine Schienen (Supra) it is observed and held as under:20. Independence and impartiality of the arbitrator are the hallmarks of any arbitration proceedings. Rule against bias is one of the fundamental principles of natural justice which applied to all judicial and quasi judicial proceedings. It is for this reason that notwithstanding the fact that relationship between the parties to the arbitration and the arbitrators themselves are contractual in nature and the source of an arbitrators appointment is deduced from the agreement entered into between the parties, notwithstanding the same non-independence and non-impartiality of such arbitrator (though contractually agreed upon) would render him ineligible to conduct the arbitration. The genesis behind this rational is that even when an arbitrator is appointed in terms of contract and by the parties to the contract, he is independent of the parties. Functions and duties require him to rise above the partisan interest of the parties and not to act in, or so as to further, the particular interest of either parties. After all, the arbitrator has adjudicatory role to perform and, therefore, he must be independent of parties as well as impartial. The United Kingdom Supreme Court has beautifully highlighted this aspect in Hashwani v. Jivraj in the following words: (WLR p. 1889, para 45)45 .. ...the dominant purpose of appointing an arbitrator or arbitrators is the impartial resolution of the dispute between the parties in accordance with the terms of the agreement and, although the contract between the parties and the arbitrators would be a contract for the provision of personal services, they were not personal services under the direction of the parties.21. Similarly, Cour de Cassation, France, in a judgment delivered in 1972 in Consorts Ury, underlined that:an independent mind is indispensable in the exercise of judicial power, whatever the source of that power may be, and it is one of the essential qualities of an arbitrator.22. Independence and impartiality are two different concepts. An arbitrator may be independent and yet, lack impartiality, or vice versa. Impartiality, as is well accepted, is a more subjective concept as compared to independence. Independence, which is more an objective concept, may, thus, be more straightforwardly ascertained by the parties at the outset of the arbitration proceedings in light of the circumstances disclosed by the arbitrator, while partiality will more likely surface during the arbitration proceedings.9. Applying the law laid down by this Court in the aforesaid decisions and considering the object and purpose of insertion of Sub-section (5) of Section 12 read with Seventh Schedule to the Act, the Chairman of the petitioner Sangh can certainly be held to be ineligible to continue as an arbitrator.10. Now so far as the submission on behalf of the petitioners that the respondents participated in the arbitration proceedings before the sole arbitrator – Chairman and therefore he ought not to have approached the High Court for appointment of arbitrator under Section 11 is concerned, the same has also no substance. As held by this Court in the case of Bharat Broadband Network Limited (Supra) there must be an express agreement in writing to satisfy the requirements of Section 12(5) proviso. In paragraphs 15 & 20 it is observed and held as under:15. Section 12(5), on the other hand, is a new provision which relates to the de jure inability of an arbitrator to act as such. Under this provision, any prior agreement to the contrary is wiped out by the non- obstante clause in Section 12(5) the moment any person whose relationship with the parties or the counsel or the subject matter of the dispute falls under the Seventh Schedule. The sub-section then declares that such person shall be ineligible to be appointed as arbitrator. The only way in which this ineligibility can be removed is by the proviso, which again is a special provision which states that parties may, subsequent to disputes having arisen between them, waive the applicability of Section 12(5) by an express agreement in writing. What is clear, therefore, is that where, under any agreement between the parties, a person falls within any of the categories set out in the Seventh Schedule, he is, as a matter of law, ineligible to be appointed as an arbitrator. The only way in which this ineligibility can be removed, again, in law, is that parties may after disputes have arisen between them, waive the applicability of this sub-section by an express agreement in writing. Obviously, the express agreement in writing has reference to a person who is interdicted by the Seventh Schedule, but who is stated by parties (after the disputes have arisen between them) to be a person in whom they have faith notwithstanding the fact that such person is interdicted by the Seventh Schedule.xxx xxx xxx20. This then brings us to the applicability of the proviso to Section 12(5) on the facts of this case. Unlike Section 4 of the Act which deals with deemed waiver of the right to object by conduct, the proviso to Section 12(5) will only apply if subsequent to disputes having arisen between the parties, the parties waive the applicability of sub-section (5) of Section 12 by an express agreement in writing. For this reason, the argument based on the analogy of Section 7 of the Act must also be rejected. Section 7 deals with arbitration agreements that must be in writing, and then explains that such agreements may be contained in documents which provide a record of such agreements. On the other hand, Section 12(5) refers to an express agreement in writing. The expression express agreement in writing refers to an agreement made in words as opposed to an agreement which is to be inferred by conduct. Here, Section 9 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 becomes important. It states:9. Promises, express and implied.—In so far as a proposal or acceptance of any promise is made in words, the promise is said to be express. In so far as such proposal or acceptance is made otherwise than in words, the promise is said to be implied. It is thus necessary that there be an express agreement in writing.This agreement must be an agreement by which both parties, with full knowledge of the fact that Shri Khan is ineligible to be appointed as an arbitrator, still go ahead and say that they have full faith and confidence in him to continue as such. The facts of the present case disclose no such express agreement. The appointment letter which is relied upon by the High Court as indicating an express agreement on the facts of the case is dated 17.01.2017. On this date, the Managing Director of the appellant was certainly not aware that Shri Khan could not be appointed by him as Section 12(5) read with the Seventh Schedule only went to the invalidity of the appointment of the Managing Director himself as an arbitrator. Shri Khans invalid appointment only became clear after the declaration of the law by the Supreme Court in TRF Ltd. (supra) which, as we have seen hereinabove, was only on 03.07.2017. After this date, far from there being an express agreement between the parties as to the validity of Shri Khans appointment, the appellant filed an application on 07.10.2017 before the sole arbitrator, bringing the arbitrators attention to the judgment in TRF Ltd. (supra) and asking him to declare that he has become de jure incapable of acting as an arbitrator. Equally, the fact that a statement of claim may have been filed before the arbitrator, would not mean that there is an express agreement in words which would make it clear that both parties wish Shri Khan to continue as arbitrator despite being ineligible to act as such. This being the case, the impugned judgment is not correct when it applies Section 4, Section 7, Section 12(4), Section 13(2), and Section 16(2) of the Act to the facts of the present case, and goes on to state that the appellant cannot be allowed to raise the issue of eligibility of an arbitrator, having itself appointed the arbitrator. The judgment under appeal is also in correct in stating that there is an express waiver in writing from the fact that an appointment letter has been issued by the appellant, and a statement of claim has been filed by the respondent before the arbitrator. The moment the appellant came to know that Shri Khans appointment itself would be invalid, it filed an application before the sole arbitrator for termination of his mandate.11. In view of the above and for the reasons stated above once the sole arbitrator – Chairman is ineligible to act as an arbitrator to resolve the dispute between the parties in view of Sub-section (5) of Section 12 read with Seventh Schedule to the Act he loses mandate to continue as a sole arbitrator. Therefore, it cannot be said that the High Court has committed any error in appointing the arbitrator other than the sole arbitrator – Chairman as per Clause 13 of the Agreement in exercise of powers, under Section 11 read with Section 14 of the Act.