Extracted from the PDF above. The PDF is authoritative.
APHC010133562023
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI
ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO: 20 of 2023 Bench Sr.No:-7 [3441] Gunti Nageswara Rao ...Applicant Vs. Kalpataruvu Aqua Ponds and others ...Respondents ********** Advocate for Applicant : Dr. Sastry Jandhyala Advocate for Respondents : Mr. P. Prabhakar for Mr. Ghanta Sridhar
CORAM : THE CHIEF JUSTICE DHIRAJ SINGH THAKUR DATE : 10th January 2025 P C :
The present Arbitration Application has been filed under Section 11(5) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, for appointment of an Arbitrator to adjudicate upon the disputes arising out of and in connection with the Partnership Deed, dated 31.03.2018.
2. The disputes are stated to have arisen between the partners which are sought to be resolved through the mechanism of arbitration as was envisaged in terms of clause 16 of the Partnership Deed, which reads as under:
“16. Any dispute arising among the partners touching these represents shall be referred to an arbitration and the decision of the arbitrator or arbitrators shall be binding on all the partners.”
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3. It is stated that a notice, dated 24.10.2022, was served upon the respondents invoking the arbitration clause and proposed the name of Mr. A. Radha Krishna, Retired District Judge, to settle the disputes and differences between the parties which, however, was not agreed to by the respondents, who, in turn, suggested the name of Mr. Gabbiti Sivarama Krishna Prasad as an Arbitrator, which too was not acceptable to the applicant.
4. Having failed to arrive at a consensus in regard to the choice of the arbitrator, the present application has been filed seeking the appointment of an Arbitrator to resolve the disputes.
5.
Learned counsel for the respondents does not dispute the existence of the arbitration clause in the agreement and only seeks that their rights be reserved to raise all possible objections to the claims / counter- claims before the learned Arbitrator.
6. Be that as it may, the present application is allowed. Justice G. Shyam Prasad, former Judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, is appointed as an Arbitrator, who shall enter upon the reference and adjudicate upon the disputes arising out of and in connection with the Partnership Deed, dated 31.03.2018, and render the Award within the statutory period. The question of arbitrability of the claims is left open to be decided by the learned Arbitrator. The parties shall be free to file detailed claims and counter-claims, before the learned Arbitrator. The learned Arbitrator shall also be entitled to
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claim the fee in consultation with the parties, keeping in view the provisions of the Fourth Schedule of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. No costs. Pending miscellaneous applications, if any, shall stand closed. A copy of this order be communicated to the learned Arbitrator on the address mentioned herein below: Justice G. Shyam Prasad, TEAK, Flat No.604, Raintree Apartments, Nambur, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. Ph# 8331044099
DHIRAJ SINGH THAKUR, CJ kbs
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17 HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE DHIRAJ SINGH THAKUR, CHIEF JUSTICE
Arbitration Application No.20 of 2023
Dt: 10.01.2025
kbs