State of
Rajasthan Vs. R.S. Sharma & Co [1988] INSC
227 (16 August 1988)
Mukharji,
Sabyasachi (J) Mukharji, Sabyasachi (J) Rangnathan, S.
CITATION:
1988 SCR Supl. (2) 441 1988 SCC (4) 353 JT 1988 (4) 18 1988 SCALE (2)644
ACT:
Arbitration
Act, 1940: Sections 14, 17, 30 and 33- Award- Setting aside of by Court- Error
apparent on race of award- Award not invalid where by process of inference and
argument it may be demonstrated that the arbitrator had committed mistake in
arriving at some conclusion.
HEAD NOTE:
A
dispute over the completion of construction work under a contract led to the
litigation between the appellant and the respondent-company. However, during
the pendency of the proceedings in the High Court, the parties agreed to settle
the dispute through arbitration.
The
Arbitrators gave their award in favour of the respondent-company on the ground
that the appellant had committed breach of contract and was also guilty of
wrongful revocation of the agreement. The award did not contain any reason as
to why and how the Arbitrators had arrived at the sum awarded.
The
appellant filed objection to the respondent's application for making the award
Rule of the Court on the ground inter alia that (i) no reasons had been given
for the award, (ii) the award being ambiguous showed non-application of mind,
and (iii) the amount of interest awarded was unjustified. The learned District
Judge allowed the objection and set aside the award on the ground of ambiguity
and non-statement of reasons. The High Court, however, allowed the respondent's
appeal and also directed payment of interest for the period during which the
arbitration proceedings were pending.
Before
this Court it was urged that, because the question whether on the ground of
absence of reasons the award is bad per se is pending consideration by a
Constitution Bench of this Court, the present case should await adjudication on
this point by the Constitution Bench.
Disposing
of the appeal, it was,
HELD:
(1) One of the cardinal principles of the administration of justice is to
ensure quick disposal of PG NO 441 PG NO 442 disputes in accordance with law,
justice and equity. Justice between the parties in a particular case should not
be in suspended animation. [445B-C, G]
(2)
Interests of justice and administration of justice would not be served by
keeping at bay final adjudication of the controversy in this case on the plea
that the question whether an unreasoned award is bad or not, is pending
adjudication by a larger Bench. [445E-F]
(3) It
is not known whether the decision of this Court would have prospective
application only in view of the long settled position of law on this aspect in
this country or not. [445G]
(4)
The law as it stands today is clear that unless there is an error of law
apparent on the face of the award, the award cannot be challenged merely on the
ground of absence of reasons. This is settled law by a long series of
decisions. [445E]
(5) An
award is not invalid merely because by a process of inference and argument it
may be demonstrated that the arbitrator had committed some mistake in arriving
at some conclusion. [446B]
(6) 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.
[446C] Jivarajbhai Ujamshi Sheth v. Chintamanrao Balaji & Ors., [1964] 5
SCR 480, referred to.
(7) It
is an error of law apparent on the face of it and not a mistake of fact which
could be the ground for challenging the award. [446F] Union of India v. Bungo
Steel Furniture P. Ltd., [1967] 1 SCR 324 and Allen Berry & Co. P. Ltd. v.
Union of India, [1971] 3 SCR 282, referred to.
8. In
the present case the arbitrator gave no reasons for the award. There is no
legal proposition which is the basis of the award, far less any legal
proposition which is erroneous. And there is no allegation of any misconduct in
the proceedings. [446E-F]
(9)
The award of interest pendente lite in this case was in violation of the
principles enunciated by this Court.
[447B]
PG NO 443 Executive Engineer (Irrigation) Balimela v. Abhaduta Jena, [1988] 1
SCC 418, followed.
Food
Corporation of India v. M/s. Surendra Devendra & Mohendra
Transport Co., [1988] 1 SCC 57, explained.
CIVIL
APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 3054 of 1988.
From
the Judgment and Order dated 16.3.1988 of the Rajasthan High Court in S.B.
Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 240/1987.
K. Parasaran,
Attorney General, B.L. Saruparia and Badridas Sharma for the Appellant.
Soli
J. Sorabjee, Paras Kulad, Rohinton F. Nariman and Rathin Das for the
Respondent.
The
Judgment of the Court was delivered by SABYASACHI MUKHARJI, J. Leave granted.
Appeal is disposed of by the judgment herein.
This
appeal challenges the order of the High Court of Rajasthan, dated 16th March, 1988. The respondent's tender for
construction of complete masonry dam (Civil Engineering Works) Mahi Bajaj-Sagar
Project, Banswara, was accepted by the appellant for a sum of Rs.5,90,30,791
vide letter dated 29.4.1974 and a provisional agreement was entered into
between the parties on 23.5.1975. The construction was commenced by the
respondent-company but it did not complete the same and, it is alleged, left
the work unfinished in the year 1979, which was of the value of Rs.
1,79,80,054.
The
letter of acceptance was dated 23.5.1975. It is stated that the respondent did
not start the work in spite of written notices and, ultimately, by a letter
dated 24th December, l979 of the Executive Engineer (Dam Division), Banswara,
the respondent was informed that as it had committed breach of the conditions
of the contract, the same had been terminated and that the State Govt. would
complete the work under the clauses and conditions of the contract.
The
work had to be completed departmentally at the cost and risk of the respondent-company.
After some litigation between the parties when the Civil Revision was pending
in the High Court of Rajasthan at Jodhpur, a compromise between PG NO 444 the parties was arrived at on the 13th April, 1982. It was agreed that the dispute
would be settled through arbitration. By an agreement dated 13th June, 1982 the parties named their
arbitrators.
The
arbitrators entered upon the reference on 19th June, 1982. On 5th May, 1982, the respondent-company presented its claims under 40 heads
claiming a total sum of Rs. 1,90,53,059.28. This amount was later on revised to
Rs. 1,82,20,261.02. The State filed a counter-claim for a sum of Rs.
1,70,63,026.37 which was revised to Rs. 1,25,706,17. It is stated that the
arbitration proceedings were conducted for 52 days during which the number of
sittings was 25.
Various
issues were framed. Minutes of the proceedings were recorded. The arbitrators
gave the award on 8.12.1982. It is stated that the award did not contain any
reason as to why and how they had arrived at the figure of Rs. 75,41,755 in favour
of the respondent-company. The award, however, mentioned that the State of Rajasthan committed breach of contract and
was also guilty of wrongful revocation of the agreement and the actions taken
under Clauses 2 and 3 of the conditions of the Contract, were wrongful and
unjustified.
However.
no reasons were indicated as to how the arbitrators arrived at those findings.
The
respondent filed an application in the Court of the learned District Judge for
making the award Rule of the Court. The appellant, however, filed an objection
on the grounds inter alia that no reasons had been given by the arbitrators for
the award and the amount of interest awarded was unjustified. It was further
averred that the award being ambiguous, showed non-application of mind and the
question as regards the plant machinery of the respondent-company lying at the
dam site, were beyond the scope of the arbitrator.
The
learned District Judge by his judgment and order dated 11th August, 1987 allowed the objection and set aside
the award on the ground of ambiguity and non-application of mind. The award
also suffered from the vice of non-statement of reasons, according to the
learned District Judge.
According
to him, the award was not in accordance with law.
He
further held that the plant & machinery lying at the dam site was beyond
the reference made to the arbitrators. He was of the opinion that the interest
amount was ambiguous and thus liable to be set aside. THere was an appeal to
the High Court. The High Court allowed the appeal and passed a decree for Rs.
75,41,755 being the amount of all claims and directed that the State should pay
interest @ 5% p.a. on the said amount for the period from 1.8.1983 to
8.12.1985, being the period during which the arbitration proceedings were PG NO
445 pending. This decision of the High Court is under challenge in this appeal.
It was
contended before us that the question whether on the ground of absence of
reasons, the award is bad per se, is pending consideration by a Constitution
Bench of this Court in C.A. No. 3137-39/85, 3145/85- Jaipur Development
Authority v. Firm Chhokhamal Contractor etc. It was, hence, urged that this
should await adjudication on this point by the Constitution Bench. We are unable
to accept this contention. In our opinion pendency of this question should not
postpone all decisions by this Court. One of the cardinal principles of the
administration of justice is to ensure quick disposal of disputes in accordance
with law, justice and equity. In the instant case the proceedings have long procrasticated.
Indeed, the learned Judge of the High Court, after narrating the incidents from
1975 to 1985, concluded his judgment in March 1988 by observing that that was
the end of the journey. He was wrong. That was only the end of a chapter in the
journey and the appellant wants to begin another chapter in the journey on the
plea that the award is not a reasoned one. The bargaining between the parties
was entered into in 1974-75 and the award was made on 8th December, 1985 i.e. a
decade after the beginning of the transaction.
The
law as it stands today is clear that unless there is an error of law apparent
on the face of the award, the award cannot be challenged merely on the ground
of absence of reasons. This is settled law by a long series of decisions.
Interests
of justice and administration of justice would not be served by keeping at bay
final adjudication of the controversy in this case on the plea that the
question whether an unreasoned award is bad or not, is pending adjudication by
a larger Bench. There have been a large number of sittings before the
arbitrators. Parties have been heard. There was no misconduct in the
proceedings. There has been no violation of the principles of natural justice.
In such a situation it would be inappropriate to postpone the decision pending
adjudication of this question by a larger Bench of this Court. We do not know
how long it would take to decide that question, and whether ultimately this
court would decide that unreasoned awards per se are bad or whether the
decision would have prospective application only in view of the long settled
position of law on this aspect in this country or not. Justice, between the
parties in a particular case, should not be in suspended animation. Law as it
stands today, as observed in Jivarajbhai Ujamshi Sheth & Ors. v. Chintamanrao
Balaji & Ors., [1964] 5 SCR 480 is that award made by an arbitrator is
conclusive as a judgment between the parties and the Court is entitled to set
aside an award only if the arbitrator has misconducted himself in PG NO 446 the
proceedings or when the award has been made after the issue of an order by the
Court superseding the arbitration or if the arbitration proceedings have become
invalid under Sec. 35 of the Arbitration Act or where an award has been
improperly procured or is otherwise invalid under Sec. 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 had committed some mistake
in arriving at some conclusion. In that decision Shah, J. and Sarkar, J. as the
learned Chief Justices then were, were of the view that it was 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. They held the award not
severable.
Hidayatullah,
J. as the learned Chief Justice then was, observed that 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 his auxiliary jurisdiction.
Instant
case before us is also not a severable award.
In
Firm Madanlal Roshanlal Mahajan v. Hukumchand Mills Ltd., Indore [1967] 1 SCR
105 Bachawat, J. speaking for the Court observed that an arbitrator could give
a lump sum award. He was not bound to give a separate award for each claim. His
award on both fact and law is final. There is no appeal from his verdict. The
Court cannot review his award and correct any mistake in his adjudication,
unless an objection to the legality of the award is apparent on the face of it.
In the
present case the arbitrator gave no reasons for the award. There is no legal
proposition which is the basis of the award, far less any legal proposition
which is erroneous. Also there is no allegation of any misconduct in the
proceedings. It is an error of law apparent on the face of it and not mistake
of fact which could be the ground for challenging the award. See in this
connection the observations in Union of India v. Bungo Steel Furniture P. Ltd.,
[1967] 1 SCR 324. Also see the observations of this Court in Allen Berry &
Co. (P) Ltd. v. Union of India, New Delhi, [l971] 3 SCR 282. Hence, the High
Court was right in the instant case.
There
is, however, one infirmity in the award as sanctioned by the High Court, that
is to say, the grant of interest pendente lite. The arbitrators have observed
as follows :
"By
adjustment of interest held to be due to the Respondents with that held to be
due to the Claimants on their items of claims which were not in the nature of
claim PG NO 447 for damages for breach, we hold that the Respondents do pay Rs.
17,92,957 (Rupees seventeen lacs ninetytwo thousand nine hundred fiftyseven
only) as interest, to the Claimants upto the date of the AWARD. Claimants
further do pay to the Respondents Rs. Nill." This was awarding interest pendente
lite. This is in violation of the principles enunciated by this Court in
Executive Engineer (Irrigation), Balimela & Ors. v. Abhaduta Jena &
Ors., [1988] 1 SCC 418. Our attention was drawn by Shri Soli J. Sorabjee,
counsel for the respondent, to the decision of this Court in Food Corpn. of
India v. M/s. Surendra, Devendra & Mohendra Transport Co., [1988] 1 SCC 547
where at pages 555-556 of the report, the Court referred to certain decisions
cited by Chinnappa Reddy, J. in Executive Engineer (Irrigation), (supra) in
which he had expressed the view that those were cases in which the references
to arbitration were made by the Court or in Court proceedings of the disputes
in the suit. In that context it was held in those cases that the arbitrator had
power to grant interest. It was contended before us that this was a similar
case. There was a Court proceeding in this case regarding the appointment of
the arbitrator and, as such, on the same analogy it should be treated that the
arbitrator had power to grant interest. We are unable to accept this.
What Mr
justice O. Chinnappa Reddy meant to say by the latter judgment in Executive
Engineer (Irrigation), case referred to in Food Corporation of India, (supra)
was where the disputes regarding the merit of the case were pending in the
Court and such disputes instead of being decided by the Court adjudication had
been referred to an arbitrator by the Court, in such cases the arbitrators
deciding in the place of the Court, would have the same powers to grant
interest pendente lite as the Courts have under Section 34 of the Civil
Procedure Code. Instant case is not such a proceeding.
In
that view of the matter this part of the award, which was affirmed by the High
Court of granting of interest, must be deleted. We do so accordingly.
Shri
K. Parasaran, learned Attorney General, assures us that the amount awarded as
modified, would be paid within 8 weeks from today.
The
appeal is thus disposed of without any order as to costs.
R.S.S.
Appeal disposed of.
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