Sei sulla pagina 1di 1

Appellant

M/s Harsha Constructions

Respondents

Union of India & Ors.

Subject
:
The concerned issue in this case is whether the arbitrator
can arbitrate on matters which are expressly excepted and what are the
consequences if the arbitrator decides such issues.
The Union of India had entered into a contract with M/s Harsha Constructions for
construction of a road bridge at a level crossing. The Clause 39 of the contract deals
with the rates for the extra work which are not included in the schedule of rates. It is
mentioned that the item of work carried out by the contractor on the instructions of
the Engineer which is not included in the accepted schedule of rates should be
executed at the rates mentioned in Schedule of rates, South Central Railway. When
the rates are not included in the later, then the rates shall be decided at the meeting
between the Engineer and the contractor before execution of such items of work. The
Clause 63 states various clauses, including Clause 39, which are excluded from the
purview of the arbitration clause and the issues relating to them cannot be referred
to arbitration. Dispute arose between the owner and the contractor with regard to
the amount payable to the contractor in relation to extra work done by the
contractor. For determining the amount payable for the said work, certain meetings
had been held by the contractor and the concerned Engineer but they could not
agree to any rate. Finally, some amount was paid in respect of the additional work
done, which was not acceptable to the contractor but the contractor accepted the
same under protest. In addition to this there were some other disputes also and in
order to resolve all those disputes, a former judge of the High Court of Andhra
Pradesh, had been appointed as an arbitrator. The Arbitrator started to resolve all
the disputes including the one dealing with the rate for extra item of work. Though
the contractor objected to arbitrability of the disputes which were not referable to the
Arbitrator as per Clause 39 of the Contract, the arbitrator arrived at a rate for the
extra item of work. Thus the contractor approached the City Civil Court, Hyderabad
which decided on favour of the respondent and against the contractor. So the
contractor further appealed to the Supreme Court and the following decision was
made. The disputes which have been referred to in Clause 39 of the contract are not
open to the Arbitrator to arbitrate upon the said disputes as there was a specific
Clause whereby the said disputes had been excepted. The arbitrator should not
have taken up the disputes which are under non-arbitrable clause. So the court
cancelled the decisions provided by the arbitrator regarding the rates for the extra
items of the work. Further the court said that it is open to the contractor to take
appropriate legal action for recovery of payment for work done, which was not
forming part of the contract because the said issue decided by the Arbitrator is now
set aside.

Potrebbero piacerti anche