Summarize the following court judgment. Appeal No. 717 of 1963. Appeal from the judgment and order dated April 30	 1962	 of the Madhya Pradesh High Court at Jabalpur in Misc. Appeal No. 75 of 1961. S.T. Desai and LN. Shroff	 for the appellants. G.S. Pathak and Remeshwar Nath	 for respondents Nos. 1 to 3. A. V. Viswanatha Sastri and Remeshwar Nath	 for respondents nos.4 and 5. November 19	 1963. The Judgment of A.K. Sarkar and J.C. Shah	 JJ. was delivered by Shah	 J. M. Hidayatullah	 J. delivered a separate Opinion. SHAH	 J. Vrajlal Manilal & Company	 a firm consisting originally of four partners (1) Manilal Anandji	 (2) Jivrajbhai Ujamshi Sheth	 (3) Punjabhai section Patel	 and (4) Chintamanrao	 has been doing business of manufacturing bidis at Sagar and Delhi since 1944. From time to time fresh partnership deeds were executed readjusting the shares of the partners admitting new partners and adjusting the shares of the partners. In 1954 Manilal Anandji retired from the firm and on January 27	1955	 Punjabhai section Patel died. On February 16	 1956	 a fresh deed of partnership was executed. The firm then consisted of eight partners Jivraj and his two sons being entitled in the aggregate to annas /4/3 share in a rupee in the profits	 Chintamanrao and his two sons to annas /7/6 share in a rupee	 and the two sons of Punjabhai section Patel to the remaining annas /4/3 share. By paragraph 7 the books of account were to be maintained by the managing partner	 the financial year of the firm 483 being from Diwali to Diwali	 and profits and losses were to be ascertained at the close of the year and a copy of the balance sheet with profits and loss statement was to be supplied to each partner	 and if no objection regarding the accounts was raised within four months from the end of the year	 the ' accounts were to be deemed conclusive and binding unless vitiated by fraud. By paragraph 12 it was stipulated that a partner desiring to retire from the partnership may	 unless the other partners agreed to ' his retirement otherwise	 do so after giving six months notice to all the partners in writing terminable at the ' end of the year i.e.	 the Diwali immediately following the date of the notice. Paragraph 13 provided: "In case of retirement of any partner the valua 	 tion of the Firm will be made on the following	 basis for the purpose of settling the account of the retiring partner: "(a) Goodwill of the Firm: That is	 right to use the trade marks	 trade labels and the name of the Firm. In making the valuation of the above the net profits of the last five years will be taken as the value of the Goodwill of the Firm. (b) Outstandings	 Udhari (Recoveries) : That is	 loans and debts outstanding against persons other than partner will be calculated at 85 % of the book value of the Firm. (c) Stock of Raw Materials: That is	 tobacco	 bidis	 bidi leaves	 labels and other moveable property will be valued at the book value of these in the books of the Firm and all	 such stock and moveables	 thus valued shall be given to the remaining partners. (d) Immoveable Property: Such as buildings	 godowns	 gardens	 lands etc. will be valued at the parchase price or their book value in the books of the Firm as the case may be	 and all these shall be given to the remaining partners. " 484 Paragraph 16 incorporated a clause for reference of disputes between the partners relating to the business or dissolution of the firm to arbitration. In April 1958 Jivraj and his two sons appellants in this appeal desired to retire from the partnership	 and a deed of reference was executed on April 16	 1958	 appointing Ambalal Ashabhai	 Becharbhai Somabhai and Chaturbhuj Jasani as arbitrators to decide the dispute. It was recited in the deed of reference that since Jivraj and his two sons had expressed a desire to retire and the remaining five partners had agreed to take over the entire business of the firm	 it was "necessary to effect the final account of the retiring partners with regard to the matters mentioned below	 as far possible	 according to and taking into consideration the terms and conditions of the Partnership Agreement. Goodwill of Trade Mark.Property. 3.Credits (Udhari) 4.Dead stock. Stock in trade i.e. the raw material	 or the finished goods invested in the business. Other matters connected with these transactions. Profit and Loss Account. The Receipt ond Payments account of the amounts of the partners. By Paragraph 6 it was provided that the firm shall be continued by the remaining five partners and that those five partners shall make full payment to the retiring partners Jivraj and his two sons of such amounts	 in such manner	 and on such conditions	 as shall be decided upon by the arbitrators. Paragraph 7 set out the powers exercisable by the arbitrators in the matter of calling for production of account books and documents and other information from the parties. The deed of reference was subsequently modified	 and the parties agreed that the reference be 485 " carried out by the sole arbitrator Shri Jasani". Pursuant to this modified agreement	 Jasani entered upon the reference	 and made his award on January 9	 1959. By his award he fixed the value of the goodwill of the entire firm at Rs. 32 lakhs including in that amount the "depreciation and appreciation of the property	 dead stock and dues to be recovered". He also fixed the profits for the broken period of Samvat year 2014 from the commencement of the year till April 19	 1958 at Rs. 2	80	000 and after adjusting the personal accounts of the three retiring partners awarded to Jivraj Rs. 3	46	223.58 nP. to Amritlal son of Jivraj Rs. 4	04	519.99 nP. and to Bhagwandas son of Jivraj Rs. 3	86	019.14 nP	 and directed that the ownership over the assets of the firm i.e. property moveable and immoveable	 Trade mark	 labels	 stock in trade	 long term leases and contracts etc. shall remain with the remaining partners	 subject to the liabilities of the firm	 the retiring partners not being responsible for the liabilities of the firm	 nor having any interest in the firm or its business. This award was filed in the Court of the Additional District Judge	 Sagar	 under section 14(2) of the Indian . Chintamanrao and his sons then applied for an order setting aside the award on diverse grounds. In this appeal by the retiring partners	 two heads of objections only survive for determination and we propose to refer only to those two heads	 viz: (1) That the arbitrator in making his award travelled outside his jurisdiction delimited by the agreement of reference in that in fixing Rs. 32 lakhs as the value of the di visible assets of the firm he included therein the depreciation and appreciation of the property	 dead stock and outstandings	 which he was by the terms of the reference incom petent to include. (2) That the arbitrator was guilty of legal misconduct in that he had in the course of arbitration proceedings admitted in his record 486 a statement of account prepared by Jivraj and his sons without the knowledge of the other partners and without giving them an opportunity to make their submissions thereto. The retiring partners resisted the petition to set aside the award and submitted that they were entitled to have the assets of the firm in which they had a share	 fixed at an amount much in excess of Rs. 32 lakhs and that the arbitrator had not overstepped his jurisdiction in fixing the value of the goodwill at Rs. 32 lakhs	 and that the statement of account referred to by the applicants was prepared under the directions of the arbitrator and in his presence and it was admitted in the record of the arbitrator to the knowledge of the remaining partners who had assented thereto. The Trial Court upheld these and certain other objections	 and set aside the award. The High Court confirmed the decision of the Trial Court	 insofar as it related to the two objections hereinbefore set out. The question which we propose to consider first is: whether in making the valuation of the firm" for determining the share to be paid to the retiring partners	 did the arbitrator overstep the limits of his authority under the agreement of reference? It may be recalled that by cl. 6 of the arbitration agreement the remaining partners had to "make full payment to the retiring partners of such amount as may be decided" by the arbitrator. But in determining the amounts to be awarded to the retiring partners	 the authority of the arbitrator was restricted. He had	 in determining the amounts due to the retiring partners	 to take "final accounts with regard to the matters" set out in cl. 4	 "as far as possible	 according to and taking into consideration the terms and conditions of the Partnership agreement". By this direction the clauses of the partnership agreement were incorporated in the agreement of reference. The "final account" of the retiring partners with regard to the eight matters 487 specified in cl. 4 was undoubtedly to be made	 as far as possible	 according to and taking into consideration the terms and conditions of the partnership agreement. The language used in the deed of reference is of compulsion	 not of	 option: it means that if there be in the partnership agreement any term or condition	 which deals with any particular matter of which an account was to be taken under cl. 4 of the agreement of reference	 it has to be strictly followed. Use of the expression "as far as possible" did not confer any discretion upon the arbitrator to ignore the terms and conditions of the partnership agreement. In paragraph 13 of the partnership agreement	 in making "valuation of the firm" for the purpose of settling accounts	 the value of the goodwill	 the outstandings	 stock of raw material and moveable and immoveable property had to be taken as directed therein. In the matter of valuation of the goodwill of the firm	 therefore	 no discretion was left to the arbitrator:the value of the goodwill had to be the aggregate ofthe net profits of the last five years. Debts due to the firm from persons other than partners had to be "calculated at 85 % of the book value of the firm". In respect of the stock of raw materials and other moveable property the "book value in the books of the firm" had to be accepted by the arbitrator and in the case of immoveable property such as buildings	 godowns	 gardens	 lands etc. "the book value in the books of the firm" was to be accepted and if none such was available the purchase price as mentioned in the books was to be accepted. In all these matters the arbitrator had by cl. 4 of the arbitration agreement to make the final account of the retiring partners according to and taking into consideration the terms and conditions of the partnership agreement and had no option. It is necessary to remember that the partnership agreement does not grant to a retiring partner a share in the aggregate of the four items mentioned in cls.(a)	 (b)	 (c) & (d) of paragraph 13 i.e.	 goodwill of the firm	 outstandings	 stock of raw materials including 488 moveable and immoveable property. The partnership agreement merely provides that the "valuation of the firm" shall be made as set out therein for the purpose of settling the account of the retiring partners i.e.	 in ascertaining the.amount due to the retiring partners valuation of the assets in cls.(a) to (d) of paragraph 13 shall be made in the manner set out therein. The arbitrator was therefore bound to adopt the valuation prescribed by the partnership agreement	 but that is not to say that the retiring partner was entitled to a share equal to the aggregate of the values of the four items mentioned in paragraph 13. It is neces sary to emphasize this matter because on behalf of the retiring partners a considerable argument was advanced before us on the assumption that they were entitled to a share equal to the aggregate of the values of the four items of property mentioned in paragraph 1 3 of the partnership agreement	 and that by the method of valuation adopted by the arbitrator they were awarded much less than what they were under the partnership agreement entitled to. Paragraph 13 merely prescribes the valuation in respect of four out of the items which had to be considered in ascertaining the "valuation of the firm". The phraseology used in paragraph 13 in the opening part of the paragraph makes it clear beyond all doubt that the valuation of the firm had to be made on the basis specified for the purpose of settling the account of the retiring partner. The specific items in paragraph 13 do not prescribe any method of valuation of the debts and liabilities of the firm	 but the debts and liabilities must be taken into account in assessing the value of the share of the retiring partners. The arbitrator had to make a valuation of the firm i.e. of all the assets of the firm and of the debts due by the firm and thereafter to settle the account of the retiring partners. We may now turn to the award made by the arbitrator. The dispute between the parties has to be resolved on a true interpretation of the following clause: "I assess the value of the goodwill at Rs. 32 lakhs. 489 This amount includes the depreciation and appreciation of the property	 dead stock and dues to be recovered. " (We have taken this as the correct rendering into English of the original award which is in Hindi. It is accepted by both the parties before us as a true rendering.) The arbitrator has	 as he has observed in his award	 taken only the value of the goodwill	 in determining the amounts to be allotted to the retiring partners	 and has not expressly referred to the valuation of the three other items	 viz.	 the outstandings	 the stock in trade and moveables and the immoveable property mentioned in paragraph 13 of the partnership agreement. Counsel for the retiring partners urged that on the admission made by Chintamanrao	 the value of the goodwill alone was Rs. 21	70	650/10/and if the value of the immoveables	 stock in trade etc.and outstandings be added thereto	 the aggregate would considerably exceed Rs. 32 lakhs. But this argument is founded on the fallacious assumption that the debts and liabilities of the firm have to be ignored in determining the shares of the retiring partners. Counsel for the respondent submitted that in substance the goodwill had alone to be valued by the arbitrator for the property	 moveable and immoveable	 stockin trade and the outstandings of the firm were approximately equal to the aggregate of the debts and obligations of the firm. Reliance in this behalf was placed upon a balance sheet Ext.A 13 of the assets and liabilities of the firm	 showing the financial position of the firm on April 16	1958	 and the value of the tangible assets	 such as the stock of raw materials	 moveable and immoveable property and outstandings	 according to the balance sheet	 was approximately equal to the debts and liabilities of the firm. But it is not necessary for us to decide whether the submission of the respondents is correct. The arbitrator has in his award stated that Rs. 32 lakhs is the value of the goodwill alone	 and for some reason not disclosed by him he has not valued the other 490 assets. He has also not disclosed in his award how he has arrived at the valuation of Rs. 32 lakhs. One thing	 however	 stands out prominently in the award	 that in assessing the value of the goodwill	 he has included the depreciation and appreciation of the property	 dead stock and the outstandings. The arbitrator could undoubtedly make a lump sum valuation of the firm in the award made by him. He was not obliged in the absence of a direction in that behalf to set out in his award the valuation of the different components which aggregated to the lumpsum. The arbitrator had to "value the firm"	 and in doing so to abide by the specific directions	 but he was not obliged to set out in the award separate valuations of all or any of the items mentioned in para 4 of the deed of reference	 or in paragraph 13 of the partnership agreement	 nor to set out the extent of the debts and obligations assessed by him. What then is the effect of the inclusion by the arbitrator in the valuation of Rs. 32 lakhs	 of the depreciation and appreciation of the property	 deadstock and dues to be recovered? Ratio of the decisionDiverse arguments were submitted by counsel for the appellants in support of the plea that the inclusion of what is called the depreciation and appreciation in respect of the various items does not amount to overstepping the limits of the jurisdiction of the arbitrator. It may be re iterated that the powers of the arbitrator were	 by the terms of cl. 4 of the deed of reference	 clearly restricted. He was "to take final account of the retiring partners with regard to the matters mentioned therein	 as far as possible	 according to and taking into consideration the terms and conditions of the partnership agreement". Restriction on the power of the `rbitrator in valuing the property	 dead stock and outstandings was explicit. He could not therefore adopt any valuation different from the valuation prescribed by paragraph 13 of the partnership agreement. But the arbitrator has	 as he has himself stated	 in valuing the goodwill at Rs. 32 lakhs included in that amount the value of the depreciation and appreciation of the property	 dead stock and dues to be recovered. 491 Counsel for the appellant submitted that reduction of outstandings of the firm by 15 % in respect of the dues from persons other than the partners was a mode of ascertaining the depreciation in respect of that item provided by cl. (b) of paragraph 13 of the partnership agreement	 and the arbitrator in taking into consideration that depreciation has not acted outside his jurisdiction. It would be difficult to regard the method of valuation as prescribed in respect of the outstandings as "including depreciation". Even assuming that the reduction of the outstandings of the firm from persons other than the partners by 15 % as directed in cl.(b) of paragraph 13 of the partnership agreement be regarded as depreciation of the assets	 inclusion of depreciation and appreciation in respect of the other assets was not permitted by the deed of partnership. In valuing the moveable property including the stock of raw materials	 the arbitrator could not adopt any valuation other than that mentioned in cl.(c) of paragraph 1 3 of the partnership agreement	 namely	 the book value as given in the books of the firm. Similarly	 in the valuation of immoveables such as buildings	 godowns	 gardens	 lands etc.	 he had to accept the book value as mentioned in the books of account of the firm and if no book value was available the purchase price as mentioned in the books was to be accepted. The arbitrator had no power to make any adjustment in respect of those items by including depreciation or appreciation in their value. The principle of Cruikshank and others vs Sutherland and others(1) on which reliance was placed by counsel for the retiring partners	 has	 in our judgment no application to this case	 because in that case though there was an article of the partnership providing that the share of a deceased partner in the assets of the partnership should be ascertained by reference to the annual account made up on April 30 next after the death	 the articles were wholly silent as to the (1) 492 principle to be adopted in preparing a full and general account of the property. There was no usage or course of dealings between the partners from which an inference could be drawn that on the death of a partner his share shall be paid out on the footing of book value. The executors of the deceased partner claimed that his share be determined "at the fair value of the firm". At p. 138 it was observed by Lord Wrenbury. "Even if there were a usage to state an account for one purpose in one way	 that is not a usage to state it for another purpose in the same way. There is a passage in Blisset vs Daniel (10 Hare	 at p. 515) which is useful reading in this connection. An account stated for one purpose is not necessarily stated for another purpose. The fact is	 that in this partnership an account has never been stated with a view to fitting the case of a retiring partner	 or a deceased partner	 or a senior partner who is going to exercise an option of taking over all the assets. The partners have never had any such event in view in making the account which they have made. There has never been an account prepared which was intended to meet all the various contingencies of events such as these. In the case before us there is no dispute that the duty of the arbitrator was to make "valuation of the firm" subject to paragraph 13 of the partnership agreement and it may even be granted that in arriving at that valuation he was not bound by paragraph 7	 but on this question we express no opinion. But the values as mentioned in the different clauses had to be accepted in making up the partnership account in respect of the four matters specifically enumerated. The principle of Cruikshank 's case(1) did not apply	 because the partnership agreement in this case itself provides that the book value in the books of the firm shall be accepted. (1) 493 The expression "book value" in the context in which it occurs in the partnership agreement means	 the value entered in the books of account. Adoption of the book value is therefore obligatory and there is no scope of any adjustment in the value in the light of any depreciation or appreciation of the property	 outstandings	 stock in trade or dead stock	 apart from what may actually be included in the book value	 in the books. It is the book value alone which has to be taken. If the depreciation or appreciation has been taken into account by the partners in assessing the book value	 that was evidently part of the book value as entered in the books of account. If there was no book value entered in respect of any immoveable property	 the decisive value was to be the purchase price. It was then urged that it was for the arbitrator to adjudicate upon the true meaning of the partnership agreement and to give effect thereto	 and if in making a "valuation of the firm" he was of the opinion that depreciation and appreciation in respect of certain items of assets should be included for the purpose of making up the account of the partners	 the Court had no jurisdiction to set aside the award on that account	 merely because the Court took a different view as to the true meaning of the arbitration agreement. But if the partnership agreement was incorporated in the deed of reference	 the limits of the jurisdiction of the arbitrator must be determined by the Court and not by the arbitrator. By assuming that he was entitled to include	 beside the value of the four items as mentioned in paragraph 13	 some amount by way of appreciation in the value of those items	 the arbitrator purported to set at naught the specific directions given in that behalf An award made by an arbitrator is conclusive as a judgment between the parties and the Court is entitled to set aside an award if the arbitrator has misconducted himself in the proceedings or when the award has been made after the issue of an order by the Court superseding the arbitration or after 494 arbitration proceedings have become invalid under s.35 of the or where an award has been improperly procured or is otherwise invalid: s.30 of the . An award may be set aside by the Court on the ground of error on the face of the award	 but an award is not invalid merely because by a process of inference and argument it may be demonstrated that the arbitrator has com mitted some mistake in arriving at his conclusion. As observed in Chempsey Bhara and Company vs Jivraj Balloo Spinning and Weaving Company Ltd.(" at p. 331: "An error in law on the face of the award means	 in their Lordships ' view	 that you can find in the award or a document actually incorporated thereto	 as for instance a note appended by the "arbitrator stating the reasons for his judgment	 some legal proposition which is the basis of the award and which you can then say is erroneous. It does not mean that if. in a narrative a reference is made to a contention of one party	 that opens the door to seeing first what that contention is	 and then going to the contract on which the parties ' rights depend to see if that contention is sound." The Court in dealing with an application to set aside an award has not to consider whether the view of the arbitrator on the evidence is justified. The arbitrator 's adjudication is generally considered binding between the parties	 for he is a tribunal selected by the parties and the power of the Court to set aside the award is restricted to cases set out in section 30. It is not open to the Court to speculate	 where no reasons are given by the arbitrator	 as to what impelled the arbitrator to arrive at his conclusion. On the assump tion that the arbitrator must have arrived at his conclusion by a certain process of reasoning	 the Court cannot proceed to determine whether the conclusion is right or wrong. It is not open to the Court to attempt to probe the mental process by which the arbitrator has reached his conclusion where it (1) L.R. 50 I.A. 324.495 is not disclosed by the terms of his award. But the arbitrator has in the present case expressly stated in his award that in arriving at his valuation	 he has included the depreciation and appreciation of the property	 outstandings and dead stock	 and in so doing in our judgment the arbitrator has travelled outside his jurisdiction and the award is on that account liable to be set aside. The question is not. one of interpretation of paragraph 13 of the partnership agreement but of ascertaining the limits of his jurisdiction. The primary duty of the arbitrator under the deed of reference in which was incorporated the partnership agreement	 was to value the net assets of the firm and to award to the retiring partners a share therein. In making the "valuation of the firm". his jurisdiction was restricted in the manner provided by paragraph 13 of the partnership agreement. It was next urged that the depreciation or appreciation which had been entered in the assessment of the book value were "other matters connected with" the "transactions" mentioned in the deed of reference. But manifestly those other matters were apart from the valuation of the goodwill	 property	 outstandings and the dead stock. It was then urged that when the arbitrator stated that he had included depreciation and appreciation of certain assets in the value of the goodwill in the award	 he merely meant that such depreciation and appreciation was included as was in the circumstances permissible. But that would be ignoring the express recital in the award. In fact under the scheme of valuation envisaged by the partnership agreement and therefore the deed of reference	 there was no scope for including in the valuation	 appreciation of the assets. Again to argue	 as was sought to be done	 that even though the arbitrator stated that he had included in the amount of Rs. 32 lakhs "the depreciation and appreciation" of the property	 dead stock and dues	 there being no power to include appreciation	 appreciation in the property and the 496 dead stock could not have been included amounts to reaching a conclusion from an assumed premise of which the conclusion was a component. It was also urged that the expression depreciation and appreciation had no such meaning as decrease or increase in the market value of the property	 	dead stock and outstandings	 and the clause merely meant that in fixing the valuation such depreciation or appreciation as had gone into the assessment of the book value of the different items was taken into consideration. But the arbitrator has not said that he merely took into consideration the depreciation and appreciation which went into the book value assigned by the partners to the assets in the account: he has clearly stated that he had included the depreciation and appreciation in those assets in the valuation of the goodwill. Finally it was urged that the recital about the inclusion of depreciation or appreciation was a mere surplusage and should be discarded. But it would be difficult to regard a statement made by the arbitrator relating to what he says he had included in the valuation of the goodwill	 as a mere surplusage	 especially having regard to the orders made by him insisting upon the production of documentary evidence and certain books of account from Chintamanrao. It may be pointed out that by cl. 7 of the deed of reference very wide powers were conferred upon the arbitrator to call upon the disputing parties to produce the accounts etc. which the arbitrator desired and to produce any other papers or documents which the arbitrator would like to inspect	 and to reply to any enquiry verbal or written of any sort or in any connection and in any form the arbitrator wanted. The orders passed by the arbitrator in exercise of these powers tend to indicate that in his view he was competent to ascertain and include in the valuation of the firm the depreciation and appreciation on the various items which were taken into account in arriving at the valuation. By order dated September 16	 1958	 the arbitrator gave direction	 amongst 497 others	 to Chintamanrao to file a statement of houses etc.of immoveable property	 valuation of the same as shown in the books of account	 i.e. figures regarding it	 and "also the approximate value statement as it existed" at the date of demand according to the estimate of Chintamanrao. In the note to the order	 it was stated that Chintamanrao had produced certain papers but they were incomplete	 and therefore he was ordered to bring copies of the incomplete papers and also those papers which were not sent by him. On October 10	 1958	 Chintamanrao produced a statement of the net profits of the five years preceding the date of dissolution which he called the price of the goodwill for Samvat years 2009 to 2013. The aggregate of the net profits was Rs. 21	70	650/10/which he called "price of the goodwill". He then submitted a statement of the outstandings of the different shops aggregating to Rs. 9	16	366/ and the value of the goods purchased	 and other property	 and submitted that the total value of the goodwill of the firm by taking into account the profits of the firm for the last five years "as per the statement filed was Rs. 21	70	650/10/3 and deducting therefrom 15 % of the outstandings of the firm considered as irrecoverable	 the balance was Rs. 20	33	295/12/9" and that this was the amount from which the shares of the retiring partners were to be computed. On December 2	 1958	 an application was filed by Chintamanrao inviting the attention of the arbitrator to the agreement of reference and to the terms of the deed of partnership	 especially paragraphs 7 and 13	 and submitting that the book values of items (2) to (5) in paragraph 4 of the agreement of reference were already in the books of account and could be easily found without any detailed or elaborate examination of the books of account	 it was unnecessary to enter upon any detailed inspection of the various entries. On this application an order was passed on December 5	 1958	 by the arbitrator that the inspection of the books of account do start on December 21	 1958	 in his presence at Sagar in the office of Messrs Virajlal Mannilal and Company and that Chintamanrao do 1 SCI/64 32 498 make arrangements for giving inspection of all the books of account. On December 22	 1958	 another application was submitted by Chintamanrao stating that it was not necessary to produce certain registers and manufacturing accounts and that the orders in that behalf were beyond the jurisdiction of the arbitrator and that he was unable to produce the 	documents demanded. It was submitted by that application that the kind of inspection claimed and granted amounted to re opening of the accounts for the last five years which were closed with the consent and to the knowledge of all the partners and which could not in law be re opened. On December 23	 1958	 an application was made by Amrat Lal son of Jivraj (one of the retiring partners) submitting that the arbitrator had to value the goodwill and this had to be done by ascertaining the value of the profits of the five years	 and for that purpose the arbitrator was entitled to ascertain yearly profits by scrutinising the account books and finding out the yearly net profits. On these applications on December 25	 1958 the arbitrator gave a direction that Chintamanrao do produce the papers mentioned in item No. 2 in the order dated September 16	 1958	 namely	 the gross and net profits of the last five years	 and that he do produce the other papers which were ordered to be produced by the order dated September 16	 1958. Thereafter on January 9	 1959	 the arbitrator made his award. The insistence of the arbitrator upon production of the gross and net profits of the last five years indicate that it was the opinion of the arbitrator that he was entitled to take into consideration not only the book value of the assets given in the partnership books of account but the depreciation and appreciation of those assets. The specific use of the expression by the arbitrator that he had included the depreciation and appreciation of various items of property and the procedure followed by him including the orders therefore clearly establish that the expression used by him was not a mere surplusage. 499 It is clear that the arbitrator has included in his valuation some amount which he was incompetent	 by virtue of the limits placed upon his authority by the deed of reference	 to include. This is not a case in which the arbitrator has committed a mere error of fact or law in reaching his conclusion on the disputed question submitted for his adjudication. It is a case of assumption of jurisdiction not possessed by him	 and that renders the award	 to the extent to which it is beyond the arbitrator 's jurisdiction	 invalid. It is	 however	 impossible to sever from the valuation made by the arbitrator the value of the depreciation and appreciation included by the arbitrator. The award must	 therefore	 fail in its entirety. In this view of the case	 we do not think it necessary to consider whether the plea raised by the remaining partners that the award is vitiated on the ground that the arbitrator accepted from the retiring partners documents prepared from the books of account without giving an opportunity to the remaining partners to explain those documents. It was the case of Chintamanrao that these documents were prepared and handed over to the arbitrator without giving any notice to him. It was the case of the retiring partners that the documents consisted merely of extracts of entries in the books of account	 and that in any event Chintamanrao had assented to those documents being included in the record of the arbitrator. For the reasons set out by us in dealing with the first plea for setting aside the award	 and that plea having succeeded	 we do not think it necessary to enter upon the respective contentions of the parties on the second ground. We accordingly hold that the award was properly set aside by the Courts below. Counsel for the retiring partners submitted that on the view taken by us	 the award should be remitted to the arbitrator under section 16 of the . No such request was	 however	 made by them in the Trial Court or in the High Court	 and we will not be justified in the circumstances of the case in 500 acceding to that request. We may observe that we have not heard counsel on the question whether in the circumstances of the case and on the conclusion recorded	 we have the power under section 16 to remit the award to the arbitrator. The retiring partners have also not asked for an order for supersession of the arbitration agreement in exercise of the powers of the Court under section 19. We have	 therefore	 refrained from considering that question also. The appeal fails and is dismissed with costs in one set. HIDAYATULLAH	 J. This appeal arises out of an arbitration award which was set aside by the Additional District Judge	 Sagar on the objection of the respondents. The judgment of the Additional District Judge was confirmed on appeal by the High Court and the present appeal has been filed on a certificate granted by the High Court under article 133 (1)(c) of the Constitution. The arbitration was without the intervention of the Court. Previously it proceeded before three arbitrators but the authority of two of the arbitrators was revoked by the Additional District Judge	 Sagar	 at the agreed request of the parties to the reference. It then proceeded before one Chaturbhuj V. Jasani who gave his award on January 9	 1959. The arbitration proceedings were necessary because of the retirement of the appellants from a firm called Virajlal Mannilal & Co. which at that time consisted of eight partners in three groups. These groups were the three appellants (Jivraj and his two sons) owning /4/3 share	 respondents Nos.1 3 (Chintamanrao and his two sons) owning /7/6 share and the two remaining respondents	 who are brothers	 owning the balance. By agreement this retirement was to take place on April 15	 1958. In revoking the award the High Court	 in concurrence with the court below	 has upheld two objections (a) that the arbitrator exceeded his jurisdiction and (b) that he was guilty of misconduct in receiving some evidence behind the back of Chintamanrao. 501 The firm of which the several parties here were partners had a written deed of partnership executed on February 16	 1956. This deed replaced earlier deeds to which reference is not necessary. The partnership kept its accounts from Diwali to Diwali and every year it drew up a balance sheet and a profit and loss account	 copies of which documents were given to all the partners. The accounts so stated were subject to objection but if none was made	 they were conclusive and binding on the partners. All this was provided in the deed of partnership which also provided for the retirement of partners and its 13th paragraph laid down special terms as follows: "In case of retirement of any partner the valuation of the Firm will be made on the following basis for the purpose of settling the account of the retiring partner: (a) Goodwill of the Firm: That is	 right to use the trade marks	 trade labels and the name of the Firm. In making the valuation of the above	 the net profits of the last five years will be taken as the value of the Goodwill of the Firm. (b) Outstandings	 Udhari (Recoveries): That is	 loans and debts outstanding against persons other than partner will be calculated at 85 % of the book value of the Firm. (c) Stock of Raw Materials: That is	 tobacco	 bidis	 bidi leaves	 labels and other moveable property will be valued at the book value of these in the books of the Firm and all such stocks and moveables	 thus valued shall be given to the following partners. (d) Immovable Property: Such as buildings	 godowns	 gardens	 lands etc. will be valued at the purchase price or their book value in the books of the firm as the case may be	 and all these shall be given to the re maining partners. " 502 As a result of an arrangement reached aliunde by which the businesses of these partners	 which were in different firm names and various places	 were to be divided between the appellants on the one hand and the respondents on the other	 the parties desired an arbitration to separate the shares of the appellants as partners retiring from the firm Virajlal Mannilal & Co. A deed of reference was executed by them on April 16	 1958. After the usual recitals	 it provided that a final account of the partners should be taken with regard to eight matters as far as possible according to and taking into consideration the terms and conditions of the partnership agreement. " The eight matters were: 1.Goodwill of Trade Mark.Property. 3.Credits (Udhari).Dead Stock.Stock in trade i.e.	 the raw material or the finished goods invested in the business.Other matters connected with these transactions.Profit and Loss Account. The Receipt and Payments account of the amounts of the partners. It was further provided that the firm Virajlal Mannilal was to continue with the respondents after the appellants had retired therefrom and the appellants were to be. paid an amount to be determined by the arbitrator and in such a manner and on such conditions as he might direct. The arbitrator having filed the award in Court	 the respondents filed objections	 only two of which noticed above succeeded and the award was set aside. I shall therefore proceed straight to those objections of which only the first was fully argued before us. In making his award the arbitrator gave the appellants a 14/3 share from a lump amount of Rs.32 lacs which he described as "goodwill" of the firm	 adjusting	 in the respective shares of the three appellants in that sum	 all amounts standing to their credit 503 or debit	 as the case may be	 in the account books of the firm. He also assessed the "goodwill" for the period from Diwali to the date of retirement and made suitable additions. His real decision is contained in three or four lines in the award which of course contains other matters and his exact words in Hindi have given rise to some difference because they have been translated in two different ways on the record of the case. The two translations are (1) The value of the goodwill of the whole firm 1 assess at Rs. 32	000	00	 (Rupees thirtytwo lacs). In this sum property	 dead stock and depreciation and appreciation of Udhari are also included; (2) The value of the goodwill of the whole firm 1 assess at Rs. 32	000	00/ (Rupees thirtytwo lacs). In this sum the depreciation and appreciation of property	 dead stock and Udhari is also included. " The second translation is probably more accurate than the first	 but to my mind it is not a matter of mere words but of what the arbitrator has done. The award is in Hindi and the two words "appreciation" and "depreciation" are in English. They might well have been used to still all controversy about issues which the parties had raised before him relating to these matters. The arbitrator might	 in other words	 have used these words loosely without meaning anything except to show that he had looked into everything which the parties desired him to see. The dispute is thus whether the arbitrator exceeded his jurisdiction by adding back depreciation amounts to the book value and/or allowing for appreciation of property which was successfully claimed by the respondents in the High Court and the Court below to be not open to him? In this appeal it was contended on behalf of the appellants that the deed of partnership as well as the order of reference left the arbitrator a free hand and even if the arbitrator wrongly interpreted the deed of partnership and did add back the depreciation and/or 504 appreciation	 no question of jurisdiction could arise. Reliance is placed upon the observations of the Judicial Committee in the well known case of Chamsey Bhara & Co. vs Jivraj Balloo Spg. & Wvg.Co.(1) where it was observed: "An error in law on the face of the award means	 in their Lordships ' view	 that you can find in the award or a document actually incorporated thereto	 as for instance	 a note appended by the arbitrator stating the reasons for his judgment	 some legal proposition which is the basis of the award and which you can then say is erroneous. It does not mean that if in a narrative a reference is made to a contention of one party that opens the door to seeing first what that contention is	 and then going to the contract on which the parties ' rights depend to see if that contention is sound. Here it is impossible to say	 from what is shown on the face of the award	 what mistake the arbitrators made. The only way that the learned judges have arrived at finding what the mistake was is by saying; "inasmuch as the arbitrators awarded so and so	 and inasmuch as the letter shows that the buyer rejected the cotton	 the arbitrators can only have arrived at that result by totally misinterpreting Rule 52". But they were entitled to give their own interpretation to Rule 52 or any other Article	 and the award will stand unless	 on the face of it	 they have tied themselves .down to some special legal proposition which then	 when examined	 appears to be unsound." Mr. Desai contends that the arbitrator might have interpreted the partnership deed wrongly but that was a matter within his jurisdiction and the error	 if any	 not being one of law on the face of the award	 the Civil Court had no authority or jurisdiction to set aside the award. The other side contends	 as has so far been held in the case	 that the reference	 read with the partnership deed	 created an area of (1) I.L.R. at 586. 505 jurisdiction which the arbitrator has outstepped. The first point is therefore to decide what were the limits of the arbitrator 's action as disclosed by the reference and the deed of partnership and then to see what the arbitrator has actually done and not what be may have stated loosely in his award. This is the only way in which the excess of jurisdiction can be found If the interpretation of the deed of partnership lies with the arbitrator	 then there is no question of sitting in appeal over his interpretation	 in view of the passage quoted above from Champsey 's case but if the parties set limits to action by the arbitrator	 then the arbitrator had to follow the limits set for him	 and the court can find that he has exceeded his jurisdiction on proof of such action. The arbitrator derived his authority from the reference and we must turn to its terms in the first instance. The material portion has been quoted and it shows that in view of the retirement of Jivraj and his sons	 parties considered it necessary "to effect the final account of the retiring partners with regard to the matters mentioned below as. ' far possible according to and taking into consideration the terms and conditions of the partnership agreement" and then followed the eight items. The words underlined are in the recitals but they do show that the parties desired a division in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement. The words "as far possible" show some latitude in one sense	 but the force of those words is to be discovered with the aid of the other words "according to and taking to consideration etc." which lay down that the terms of the partnership agreement must prevail over personal opinion. The partners appointed the arbitrators to decide the eight matters and to enable them to give their decision undertook by cl. 7 of the reference to furnish all accounts	 documents and information which the arbitrators might require of them. Now the deed of partnership which was to prevail as far as its terms were applicable provided that to settle the final account of the retiring partners 506 four items of assets should be valued in a particular way. These directions were contained in cl. ' 13 of the deed already set out earlier. Thus goodwill was equal to five years ' net profits; debts due to the firm were to be taken not at their book value but at 85 % of that value; stocks of raw materials were to be valued at book value; and immovable properties at purchase price or their book value in the books of the firm as the case may be. The goodwill took no account of anything but the net profits. Admittedly	 the net profits of the preceding five years were Rs. 21	70	650/ 10/ . This set at rest sub clause (a) of cl. 13 of the partnership agreement. Admittedly also the outstandings (Udhari) came to Rs. 9	16	366/ at their book value and 15% thereof came to Rs. 137	354/13/6. The net Udhari therefore was Rs. 7	79	011/2/6. Differences really arose in the matter of valuation of raw materials and immovable properties and in this connection. the appellants asked to see an account of gross profits for the past five years which the arbitrator ordered Chintamanrao to produce. According to the appellants the value of properties given by Chintamanrao was the written down value and the right figure according to the agreement was not Rs. 6	24	369/ as stated by Chintamanrao but Rs. 16	57	000/ . In reply Chintamanrao stated that it was not the practice of the firm to prepare an account of gross profits but he added that gross profits could be calculated from the account books by the other side or by the arbitrator and he offered the services of an accountant to prepare such an account. The documents which the arbitrator is said to have received behind the back of Chintamanrao (though not some of the other respondents) are the abstracts which show the gross profits and what was excluded to reach the net profits. The net profits in these accounts and the net profits given by Chintamanrao agree. I do not refer to the dispute about the production of the documents since that part of the case was not argued before us	 but these accounts prime facie do show that in working out net profits for the five years	 depreciation of immovable property and goods was taken 507 into account. The same depreciation appears to have been taken into account in the balance sheet while valuing the assets against the liabilities. In other words depreciation of immovable properties and goods over the five years for which the goodwill was to be calculated appeared to have been taken twice over. I would have persuaded myself to go into this matter more deeply but for the fact that such depreciation does not altogether account for the difference between 21 lacs and 32 lacs. The balance sheets show a very slender difference between the assets and liabilities over the five years and it may be taken that the value of Udhari	 raw materials and immovable properties is offset by the liabilities. Nothing remains except a very petty sum as profit to be carried over for addition to the goodwill. The duplicated depreciation does not in fact account for the increase from Rs. 21 lacs to Rs. 32 lacs. The conclusion is therefore inescapable that the arbitrator meant what he said when he spoke of including appreciation and depreciation in the valuation of the properties etc. For this reason he must be held to have exceeded his jurisdiction and it is not a question of his having merely interpreted the partnership agreement for himself as to which the Civil Court on authority could have had no say	 unless there was an error of law on the face of the award. Reliance is placed upon the case of Cruickshank and others vs Suiherland and others ' " that if accounts in the past were not prepared to meet the contingency of retiring partners	 the accounts must be recast for this special purpose and the arbitrator must necessarily have freedom to value property in his own way and not by accepting old accounts already made by the partners. The intention here was that the arbitrator should prepare the final accounts as the partners would themselves have done under the partnership agreement	 and the arbitrator had to follow cl. 13 of the partnership agreement which was binding on (1) 508 the partners and therefore on him. The partnership agreement did not speak of market value or fair value. It stated that the purchase price or the book value as the case may be alone could be taken into account. This meant that the book value where available and the purchase price in other cases only were to enter in the calculations. There was thus no option to go to fair value or market price at all. I do not think that we should supersede the arbitration agreement under s.19. No circumstance was made out for such a course. I would have directed a remit to the arbitrator under section 16 of the but my brethren take a different view of the matter and I leave the matter there. The contention of the appellants on the question of juris diction decided against them must fail and I agree that the appeal should be dismissed with costs. Appeal dismissed.

The appellants and the respondents entered into a partnership in the business of manufacturing bidis. Under the agreement a partner was entitled to retire after giving notice of six months to all partners. It contained a clause for reference of disputes between the partners relating to the business or dissolution of the firm to arbitration. It also contained a clause providing how four items including goodwill should be valued. According to this clause goodwill was equal to five years net profits for debts due to the firm were to be taken not at their book value but at 85% of that value	 stocks of raw materials were to be valued at book value and immovable properties were to be valued at their purchase price or	 their book value. About two years later the appellants desired to retire from the partnership and a deed 	of reference was executed and a sole arbitrator was appointed. This provided that the remaining partners shall continue the firm and they shall make full payment to the retiring partners of such amounts in such manner and on such conditions as shall be decided upon by the arbitrator. The arbitrator gave the award. He fixed the value of the goodwill of the firm at Rs.32 lakhs including in that amount the "depreciation and appreciation of the property	 dead stock and dues to be recovered. " The award was filed in the Court under section 14(2) of the Indian . 481 The respondents applied for an order setting aside the award on diverse grounds	 two out of which survived for consideration in the present appeal. The first was that the arbitrator in making this award exceeded his jurisdiction because in fixing Rs. 32 lakhs as the value of the devisable assets of the firm he included therein the depreciation and appreciation of the property dead stock and outstandings; secondly that the arbitrator was guilty of misconduct. The trial court upheld these and certain other objections and set aside the award. The High Court confirmed the decision of the trial court insofar as it related to the two contentions. The present appeal is on a certificate granted by the High Court. Held:(i) An award made by an arbitrator is conclusive as a judgment between the parties and the court is entitled to set aside an award if the arbitrator has misconducted himself in the proceeding or when the award has been made after the issue of an order by the Court superseding the arbitration or after arbitration proceedings have become invalid under section 35 of the or where an award has been improperly procured or is otherwise invalid under section 30 of the Act. An award may be set aside by the Court on the ground of error on the face of the award	 but an award is not invalid merely because by a process of inference and argument it may be demonstrated that the arbitrator has committed some mistake in arriving at his conclusion. Champser Bhara and Company vs Jivrai Balloo Spinning and Weaving Company Ltd.	 L.R. 50 I.A. 324 and Cruikshank and others vs Sutherland and others	 	 distinguished. (ii)It is not open to the Court to speculate	 where no reasons are given by the arbitrator	 as to what impelled the arbitrator to arrive at his conclusions. (iii)In the present case the arbitrator had included depreciation and appreciation of certain assets in the value of the goodwill which he was incompetent to include by virtue of the limits placed upon his authority by the deed of reference. This was not a case in which the arbitrator has committed an error of fact or law in reaching his conclusions on the disputed questions submitted for adjudication. It was a case of assumption of jurisdiction not possessed by him and that rendered the award to the extent to which it was beyond the arbitrators ' jurisdiction	 invalid. It is	 however	 impossible to sever from the valuation made by the arbitrator the value of the depreciation and appreciation included by the arbitrator. The award must therefore fail in its entirety. Per Hidayatullah	 J. (i) If the parties set limits to action by the arbitrator	 then the arbitrator had to follow the limits set for him and the court can find that he exceeded his jurisdiction on proof of such excess. (ii)In the present case the arbitrator in working out net profits for four years took into account depreciation of immovable 1/SCI/64 31 482 property. For this reason he must be held to have exceeded his jurisdiction and it is not a question of his having merely interpreted the partnership agreement for himself as to which the Civil Court could have had no say	 unless there was an error of law on the face of the award.