Holding

The application for appointment of an arbitrator is not maintainable because the arbitration agreement is vitiated by fraud, the parties have not complied with the agreed appointment procedure, and the existing injunction bars arbitration.

Summary

The petitioners, India Household and Healthcare Ltd., entered into a Memorandum of Understanding and a licence agreement with the respondents, LG Household and Healthcare Ltd., which contained an arbitration clause. A dispute arose over the use of the LG logo and the respondents obtained an interim injunction restraining the petitioners from acting under the agreements, alleging that the agreements were procured by fraud involving bribery and conspiracy. The petitioners then filed an application under Sections 11(5) and 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 seeking appointment of an arbitrator. The Supreme Court held that the arbitration agreement could not be enforced because the underlying contract was vitiated by fraud and because the parties had not complied with the agreed procedure for appointing arbitrators, and the existing injunction precluded any arbitration. Consequently, the application for appointment of an arbitrator was dismissed as non‑maintainable.

Issues considered

Whether an arbitration agreement remains enforceable when the underlying contract is alleged to be vitiated by fraud.
Whether a court can entertain an application under Section 11(5)‑(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 when an injunction restraining the parties from acting under the same agreement is in force.
Whether the parties complied with the procedural mechanism for appointing arbitrators as stipulated in the arbitration clause.
Whether the dispute concerning the LG logo falls within the scope of the arbitration agreement.

Legislation cited

Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996s. 11(5), s. 11(6), s. 16, s. 45, s. 5, s. 8
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908s. 151, s. Order XXXIX Rule 2

Subjects

arbitrationarbitration agreementfraudinjunctionSection 11appointment of arbitratorcomitycontract vitiatedLG logo disputeinternational commercial arbitration

Judgment

A INDIA HOUSEHOLD AND HEALTHCARE LTD.
v.
LG HOUSEHOLD AND HEALTHCARE LTD.

MARCH 8, 2007

B [S.B. SINHA, J.]

Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996-Section 11(5) and (6)-
Appointment of arbitrator-Application under-Maintainability of-Held:
Not maintainable since the arbitration agreement was vitiated by fraud-
C High Court passed injunction order that the applicant was restrained from
taking any action in terms of the agreement and the same became Jina/-
Doctrine of comity or amity required a Court not to pass order in conflict
with another order passed by competent court of law-Procedure and
mechanism agreed by the parties not complied with-Applicant did not
D appoint its arbitrator nor called upon the other party to appoint its arbitrator
in terms or the arbitration agreement-A/so, the relief sought fell outside the
scope of arbitration agreement.

The petitioner and the respondent entered into Memorandum of
Understanding. Thereafter, the parties entered into a licence agreement which
E contain1~d an arbitration clause and in terms thereof parties if agreed could
appoint a common arbitrator or otherwise one arbitrator could be appointed
by each of the parties to the agreement. Dispute arose in regard to the use of
Logo L.G. It is alleged that the respondent did not appoint arbitrator inspite
of notice. Respondent contended that the purported MOU and licence
F agreement were vitiated by fraud. Respondent filed suit for injunction against
petitioners. High Court granted injunction and restrained the petitioners from ~
acting on the MOU and the licence agreement. Hence the present application
by the petitioners under section 11(5) and (6) of Arbitration and Conciliation
Act, 1996 for appointment of arbitrator.

G Dismissing the petition, the Court

HELD: I. I. Where existence of an. arbitration agreement can be found,
apart from the existence of the original agreement, the Courts would construe
the agreement in such a manner so as to uphold the arbitration agreement.
726
H
INDtA HOUSEHOLD A~D HEALTHCARE LTD ,._ LtJ HOL'SEHOLD AND HEALTIKARE L11)
727
-..-1 However, when a question of fraud is raised, the same has to be considered A
differently. Fraud, as is well known, vitiates all salemn acts. A contract would
mean a valid contract; an arbitration agreement would mean an agreement
which is enforceable in law. (Para 10( (732-E(

SBP & Co. v. Patel Engineering Ltd. and Anr., (2005) 8 SCC 618;
Hamza Haji v. State of Kera/a and Anr., (2006) 7 SCC 416; Prem Singh and B
Ors. v. Birbal and Ors., (2006) 5 C 353 and Jai Narain Parasrampuria (Dead)
and Ors. v. Pushpa Devi Saraf and Ors., (2006) 7 SCC 756, relied on.

1.2. The power exercised by Chief Justice or his designate under section
11(5) & (6) of Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 is no longer an C
administrative power. The purported arbitration agreement is an international
commercial arbitration agreement. Section 16 of the 1996 Act which is in
Chapter 4 of Part I thereof may not, thus, be applicable in this case. Even if it
applies, the jurisdiction of the arbitrator to determine his own jurisdiction is
on the basis of that arbitration clause which may be treated as an agreement D
independent of the other terms of the contract and his decision that the contract
is null and void shall not entail ipso jure the validity of the arbitration clause.
But. the question would be different where the entire contract containing the
arbitration agreement stands vitiated by reason of fraud of this magnitude. It
may be noticed that Part II of the 1996 Act contains a provision for approaching
the court. Section 45 of the 1996 Act contains a non-obstante clause. E
Therefore, a judicial authority, may entertain an application at the instance
of a party which alleges that there exists an arbitration agreement whereupon
judicial authority may refer the parties to arbitration, save and except in a
case where it finds that the said agreement is null and void, inoperative and
incapable of being performed. Section 8 of the 1996 Act, however, is differently F
worded. Thus, as and when a question in regard to the validity or otherwise of
the artitration agreement arises, a judicial authority would have the
jurisdiction under certain circumstances to go into the said question.
(Paras 12 and 13) (733-E, F, G, H; 734-A)

1.3. Not only the parties to the agreement but also those officers who G
have negotiated on behalf of tbe respective companies are also parties therein.
LG Corporation which is the owner of the LG logo is also a party therein.
Therein, an order of injunction had been passed. In terms of the said order of
injunction, the applicant herein was prohibited from taking any action in terms
of the said agreement which would include the arbitration clause also. The H
728 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007) 3 S.C.R.

A order dated 21.01.2006 has become final. No appeal has been preferred
thereagainst. The applicant could have filed an appropriate application for·
modification of the order of injunction which it did not choose to do. The
doctrine of comity or amity required a court not to pass and order which would
be in conflict with another order passed by a competent court of law. The courts
have jurisdiction to pass an order of injunction not only under Order :XXXIX,
B Rule 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure but also under Section 151 thereof.
[Para 151 [734-C, D, E[

Mis Transmission Corporation of A.P. Ltd. & Ors. v. Mis Lanco
Kondapalli Power Pvt. Ltd., (2006) I SCC 540; Morgan Securities and Credit
C Pvt. Ltd. v. Modi Rubber Ltd, (2006) 14 SCALE 267 and Manohar Lal Chopra
v. Rai Bahadur Rao Raja Seth Hirata!, AIR (1962) SC 527, referred to.

Law Governing Injunctions' by Spelling and Lewis', referred to.

1.4. A court while exercising its judicial function would ordinarily not
pass an order which would make one of the parties to the lis violate a lawful
D order passed by another court. !Para 18) (735-CJ

1.5. Applicant prayed for reliefs with regard to the issue of use of LG
logo. The said prayers fell outside the arbitration agreement since LG Logo
belongs to LG Corporation which is the owner of the trade mark and was not
E party to arbitration agreement. It had filed a separate suit.
[Paras 19 and 20! (735-D, E(

Sukanya Holdings (P) Ltd. v. Jayesh H. Pandya and Anr., (2003) 5 SCC
531, relied on.

1.6. By reason of a notice dated 15.04.2005, only a request had been
F made to nominate a person in Chennai with whom the respondent could
"interact to agree on the arbitrator to whom the claims can be made to decide
the disputes between the parties". Applicant has not appointed its arbitrator.
Respondent has also not been called upon to appoint its arbitrator by the said
notice or otherwise. An application for appointment of an arbitrator, therefore,
G is not maintainable unless the procedure and mechanism agreed to by and
between the parties is complied with. (Paras 22 and 23) (735-F, G(

National Highways Authority of India and Anr. v. Bumihiway DDB Ltd ·
(JV) and Ors., (2006) 9 SCALE 564, relied on.

Pandey and Co. Builders Pvt. Ltd v. State of Bihar and Anr., (2006) 11
H
!~DIA HOUSEHOLD AND HEALTIKARE LTD.•·. LG HOUSEHOLD AND HEALTHCARE LTD. [SB SINHA. J J 729

_,. SCALE 665 and Rashtriya /spat Nigam Limited and Anr. v. Verma Transport A
Company, (2006( 7 SCC 275, referred to.

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Arbitration Petition No. 18 of 2005.

Dushyant Dave, Udaya Kumar Sagar, Beena Madhvan, R.K. Joshi,
Shashank Kumar, Hari Kumar G. and Manjula Gupta for the appellant. B
R.F. Nariman, Ashok H. Desai, Devraj Ashok and Vikas Mehta for the
respondent.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

S.B. SINHA, J. I. This application under Sub-sections (5) and (6) of
c
Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (for short "the 1996
Act") has been filed for appointing an arbitrator on the respondent's purported ·
· failure to do so in spite of notice dated 15.04.2005.

2. Allegedly, an agreement was entered into by and between the parties D
hereto on 8.05.2004. The said agreement contained an arbitration clause being
Clause 12 thereof, the relevant portion whereof reads as follows:
~

"12.2 In the event of any dispute or difference arising between the
parties hereto or as to the rights and obligations under this agreement
or as to any claim monetary or otherwise of one party to another, such E
dispute or difference shall be referred to arbitration of a common
arbitrator, if agreed upon, otherwise to two or more arbitrators, one to
be appointed by each of the parties to this agreement and such
arbitration shall be governed by the Arbitration and Conciliation Act,
1996, for the time being in force. The venue for such arbitration shall
F
). be in India or as is mutually decided otherwise. Until a finality is
~
achieved in the arbitration or litigation, the Licensor shall have no
right to cancel the agreement and appoint any third party or enter into
agreement with any party for the sale/ importation or manufacture of.
the products/ provision of services in the territory."
G
3. Respondent, however, contends that the said agreement was preceded
by a Memorandum of Understanding dated 1.11.2003. Respondent further
contends that the said purported Memorandum of Understanding an(:! licence
agreement dated 8.05.2004 are vitiated by a fraud of a very large magnitude
fructified by a criminal conspiracy hatched between Mis. K.P. Jayram Pillai
and Vijay R. Singh representing the petitioner and Mis. C.H. Kim and B.K. H
730 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007) 3 S.C.R.

A Jung representing the respondent. The petitioner - company bribed the said ,,.._
C.H. Kim and B.K. Jung for the purpose of creation of the aforesaid documents.
They had already been convicted and sentenced to undergo imprisonment by
the Korean Criminal Court. It was contended that they misused their official
position to advance private benefit There seems to be a substantial and
reasonable nexus to promote personal advantage. There was furthermore no
B ostensible authority on their part to represent the company. The said
Memorandum of Understanding also contravenes the Korean laws in terms
whereof the execution thereof required the prior approval of and a duly
executed power of attorney from the Representative Director and the Chief
Executive Officer of the respondent which did not exist in the present case.
c 4. Respondent has also filed a suit in the Madras High Court wherein
by an order dated 6.10.2005, a learned Single Judge of the said High Court
directed:
.
"I. That I. India Household and Health Care Limited, through Mr.
D Vijay R. Singh its Managing Director 2. Mr. K.P. Jayaram Clo India
Household and Health Care Ltd. and 3. Mr. Vijay R. Singh, the
respondents 1 to 3 herein, their agents, men, assigns, representatives,
)..
employees or any one claiming through or under them be and are '
hereby restrained by an order of interim injunction until further orders
of this Court directly or indirectly acting on the so called MOU dated
E November I, 2003, the License Agreement and the minutes dated May
8, 2004 respectively, or deriving any other benefit based upon the so
called MOU, the License Agreement and Minutes, in any manner
whatsoever."

5. The said interim order has been confirmed by an order dated 21.01.2006
F stating: ,
~

"That the order of interim injunction granted in pur~uance of the -
order dated 06/10/2005 restraining the First, Second and Third
Respondents, therein their agents, men, assigns, representatives,
employees or any one claiming through or under them from directly
G or indirectly acting on the so called MOU dated November I, 2003,
the License Agreement and the minutes dated May 8, 2004, t
respectively, or deriving any other benefit based upon the so called
MOU. the License Agreement and Minutes, in any manner whatsoever
together be and is hereby made absolute."
H
INDlA H0l1SEHOLD A'.'\D HE..\L THC ARE LTD. 1·. LG HOUSEHOLD :\'.SD HEALTHCARE LTD. fS.B SINl-i..\. J l 73 }

6. This Court's attention was further drawn to the fact that in the plaint A
_) of the said suit it had categorically been stated that the private respondents
therein hatched their conspiracy to defraud the respondent and for the purpose
of obtaining bribes, commissions and kickbacks and in that view of the matter
the entire agreement is vitiated in law.

7. Mr. Dushyant Dave, learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of B
the petitioner, in support of this application, would submit:

(i) the execution of the agreement dated 8.05.2004 has not been
denied or disputed.
(ii) The correspondences have been passed between the parties c
between the period 8.05.2004 and 5.02.2005 and dispute arose in
regard to the use of the logo 'L.G .'
(iii) The arbitration agreement being a part of the contract, the validity
or otherwise thereof can be gone into by the arbitrator in terms
of Section 16 of the 1996 Act. D
(iv) Once an arbitration agreement is found to exist; having regard to
Section 5 thereof, no judicial authority can exercise any jurisdiction
..( in the matter.
(v) This Court, having regard to the philosophy underlying the 1996
E
Act should uphold the arbitration agreement between the parties.

8. Mr. R.F. Nariman, learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of the
respondent, on the other hand, would submit:

(i) in view of the Constitution Bench decision of this Court in SBP
& Co. v. Patel Engineering Ltd and Anr., (2005] 8 SCC 618, this
F
Court is obligated to go into the question as to whether the entire ·
> >- agreement is vitiated by fraud as a result whereof no valid
arbitration agreement came into being.
(ii) a fraud of grave magnitude having been committed insofar as the
G
officers representing the company had used different signatures,
the entire agreement is vitiated.

- '/
(iii) The original agreement has not been produced before any court
so as to compare the signatures of the persons with their original.
(iv) An order of injunction having been passed by a learned Judge H
732 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 3 S.C.R.

A of the Madras High Court on 6.10.2005, this Court should not
exercise its discretionary jurisdiction.
(v) The arbitration agreement is vague as it contemplates both
litigation as also an arbitration.
(vi) In any event, the applicant having not appointed its arbitrator in
B terms of the purported arbitration agreement, the application is
premature.
(vii) As some of the disputes fall outside the scope of the arbitration
agreement, this application is not maintainable.

C 9. There cannot be any doubt whatsoever that there exists a sharp
distinction between the provisions of the Arbitration Act, 1940 and the 1996
Act. The philosophy of the 1996 Act is different. The 1996 Act is required
to be read keeping in view the UNCITRAL Model Rules. [Pandey and Co.
Builders Pvt. Ltd. v. State of Bihar and Anr., (2006) 11 SCALE 665 and
D Rashtriya /spat Nigam Limited and Anr. v. Verma Transport Company, [2006]
7 SCC275]

I0. It is also no doubt true that where existence of an arbitration
agreement can be found, apart from the existence of the original agreement,
the Courts would construe the agreement in such a manner so as to uphold
E the arbitration agreement. However, when a question of fraud is raised, the
same has to be considered differently: Fraud, as is well known, vitiates all
solemn acts. A contract would mean a valid contract; an arbitration agreement
would mean an agreement which is enforceable in law.

F 11. Before embarking upon the rival contentions noticed hereinbefore,
we may notice that a 7-Judge Bench of this Court in SBP & Co. (supra)
opined that an order passed by the Chief Justice or his designate under Sub-
section (5) or (6) of Section 11 of the 1996 Act is judicial in nature. It was -'I
stated:

G "39. It is necessary to define what exactly the Chief Justice, approached
with an application under Section 11 of the Act, is to decide at that
stage. Obviously, he has to decide his own jurisdiction in the sense,
whether the party making the motion has approached the right High
Court. He has to decide whether there is an arbitration agreement, as
defined in the Act and whether the person who has made the request
H
INOIA HOUSEHOLD AND HEALTHCARE LTD.,._ LG HOUSEHOLD A~D HEALTHCAaE LTD (SB. SINHA, J J 733
••
before him, is a party to such an agreement. 1t iS11ecessary to indicate A
-> that he can also decide the question whether the claim was a dead
one; or a long barred claim that was sought to be resurrected and
whether the parties have concluded tbe transaction by recording
satisfaction of their mutual rights and obligations or by receiving the
final payment without objection. It may not be possible at that stage, B
to decide whether a live claim made, is one which comes within the
purview of the arbitration clause. It will be appropriate to leave that
question to be decided by the arbitral tribunal on taking evidence,
along with the merits of the claims involxed in the arbitration. The
Chief Justice has to decide whether the applicant has satisfied the
conditions for appointing an arbitrator under Section 11(6) of the Act. C
For the purpose of taking a decision on these aspects, the Chief
Justice can either proceed on the basis of affidavits and the documents
produced or take such evidence or get such evidence recorded,' as
may be necessary. We think that adoption of this procedure in the
context of the Act would best serve the purpose so11ght to be achieved
by the Act of expediting the process of arbitration, without too many D
approaches to the court at various stages of the proceedings before
the Arbitral tribunal."

12. The power of this Court, therefore, no longer is an administrative
power. The purported arbitration agreement is an international commercial E
arbitration agreement. Section 16 of the 1996 Act which is in Chapter 4 of Part
I thereof may not, thus, be applicable in this case. Even if it applies, the
jurisdiction of the arbitrator to determine his own jurisdiction is on the basis
of that arbitration clause which may be treated as an agreement independent
of the other terms of the contract and his decision that the contract is null
and void shall not entail ipso jure the validity of the arbitration clause. But, F
the question would be different where the entire contract containing the
arbitration agreement stands vitiated by reason of fraud of this magnitude. It
may be noticed that Part II of the 1996 Act contains a provision for approaching
the court. Section 45 of the 1996 Act contains a non-obstante clause. A
judicial authority, therefore, may entertain an application at the instance of a G
party which alleges that there exists an arbitration agreement whereupon
judicial authority may refer the parties to arbitration, save and except in a case
where it finds that the said agreement is null and void, inoperative and
incapable of being performed. Section 8 of the 1996 Act, however, is differently
worded.
H
734 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007) 3 S.C.R.

A "
13. Thus, as and when a question in regard to the validity or otherwise
of the arbitration agreement arises, a judicial authority would have the J...._
jurisdiction under certain circumstances to go into the said question.

14. Fraud, as is well known, vitiates all solemn acts. [See Hamza Haji
v. State of Kera fa and Anr., [2006] 7 SCC 416, Prem Singh and Ors. v. Birbal
B and Ors, [2006] 5 sec 353 and Jai Narain Parasrampuria (Dead) and Ors
v. Pushpa Devi Saraf and Ors., [2006] 7 SCC 756]

15. The said issue is pending consideration before the Madras High
Court. i'1ot only the parties to the agreement but also those officers who have
C negotiated on behalf of the respective companies are also parties therein. LG
Corporation which is the owner of the LG logo is also a party therein. Therein,
an order of injunction had been passed. In terms of the said order of injunction,
the applicant herein was prohibited from taking any action in terms of the said
agreement which would include the arbitration clause also. The order dated
21.01.2006 has become final. No appeal has been preferred thereagainst. The
[) applicant could have filed an appropriate application for modification of the
order of injunction which it did not choose to do. The doctrine of comity or
amity required a court not to pass and order which would be in conflict with
another order passed by a competent court of law. The courts have jurisdiction
to pass an order of injunction not only under Order XXXlX, Rule 2 of the
Code of Civil Procedure but also under Section 151 thereof.
E
16. This aspect of the matter has been considered in 'A Treatis•! on The
Law Governing Injunctions' by Spelling and Lewis' wherein it is stated :

"Sec. 8. Conflict and Loss of Jurisdiction.

F Where a court having general jurisdiction and having acquired
jurisdiction of the subject-matter has issued an ;njunction, a court of
concurrent jurisdiction will usually refuse to interfere by issuance of
a second injunction. There is- no established rule of exclusion which
would deprive a court of jurisdiction to issue an injunction because
of the issuance of an injunction between the same parties appertaining
G to the same subject-matter, but there is what may properly be termed
a judicial comity on the subject. And even where it is a ca~;e of one
court having refused to grant an injunction, while such refosal does
not exclude another coordinate court or judge from jurisdiction, yet
the granting of the injunction by a second judge may lead to
H
INDIA HOUSEHOLD AND HEAL THC AREL TD ,. LG HOUSEHOLD AND HEAL THC ARELTD IS B SINHA. J] 73 5

complications and retaliatory action ... " A
[See also Mis Transmission Corporation of A.P. Ltd. & Ors. v. Mis
Lanco Kondapalli Power Pvt. Ltd., [2006] I SCC 540 and Morgan Securities
and Credit Pvt. ltd. v. Modi Rubber ltd., (2006) 14 SCALE 267]

17. In Manohar Lal Chopra v. Rai Bahadur Rao Raja Seth Hirata!, AIR B
(1962) SC 527, this Court injuncted a party from prosecuting a suit wherein
power under Section l 0 of the Code of Civil Procedure could not have been
> exercised.

18. A court while exercising its judicial function would ordinarily not
pass an order which would make one of the parties to the Jis violate a lawful C
order passed by another court.

19. Furthermore, the applicant herein has also prayed for inter alia the
following reliefs:

"c. Whether the issue of use of LG logo is a valid and tenable ground D
for the termination of agreements between the parties?

"' d. Whether the Petitioner is entitled under the agreements to continue
with the production of the "Products" with LG logo as agreed between
the parties?"
E
20. The said prayers fall outside the arbitration agreement since LG
Logo belongs to LG Corporation which is the owner of the trade. mark. It is
not a party to the arbitration agreement. It is allegedly has filed a separate
suit. In a case of this nature, a Division Bench of this Court in Sukanya
Holdings (P) Ltd. v. Jayesh H. Pandya and Anr., [2003] 5 SCC 531 held:
F
, )'-
"Secondly, there is no provision in the Act that when the subject-
matter of the suit includes subject-matter of the arbitration agreement
as well as other disputes, the matter is required to be referred to
arbitration. There is also no provision for splitting the cause or parties
and referring the subject-matter of the suit to the arbitrators.
G
..;
It was further stated :

"The next question which requires consideration is - even if there is
no provision for partly referring the dispute to arbitration, whether
such a course is possible under. Section 8 of the Act. In our view, it H
736 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [200'.'] 3 S.C.R.

A would be difficult to give an interpretation to Section 8 under which
bifurcation of the cause of action, that is to say, the subject-matter of·
the suit or in some cases bifurcation of the suit between parties who
are parties to the arbitration agreement and others is possible. This
would be laying down a totally new procedure not contemplated
under the Act. If bifurcation of the subject-matter of a suit was
B contemplated, the legislature would have used appropriate language
to permit such a course. Since there is no such indication in the
language, it follows that bifurcation of the subject-matter of an action
brought before a judicial authority is not allowed.

Secondly, such bifurcation of suit in two parts, one to be decided
c by the Arbitral Tribunal and the other to be decided by th1: civil court
would inevitably delay the proceedings. The whole purpose of speedy
disposal of dispute and decreasing the cost of litigatio~ would be
frustrated by such procedure. It would also increase the cost of
litigation and harassment to the parties and on occasions there is
D possibility of conflicting judgments and orders by two different
forums."

21. We are, however, not oblivious of the fact that Sukanya Holdings )--
(supra) has been distinguished in Rashtriya /spat Nigam Limited and Anr. v.
Verma Transport Company, [2006] 7 SCC 275. The present case, however, is
E covered by Sukanya Holdings (supra).

22. By reason of a notice dated 15.04.2005, only a request had been
made to nominate a person in Chennai with whom the respondent could
"interact to agree on the arbitrator to whom the claims can be made to decide
the disputes between the parties".
F
23. Applicant has not appointed its arbitrator. Responden•: has also not ~
been called upon to appoint its arbitrator by the said notice or otherwise. An
application for appointment of an arbitrator, therefore, is not maintainable
unless the procedure and mechanism agreed to by and betwe1:n the parties
G is complied with.

24. In National Highways Authority of India & Anr. v. Bumihiway DDB
Ltd. (JV) & Ors., (2006) 9 SCALE 564, it was opined:-

"44 ... The parties have entered into a contract after fully understanding
the import of the terms so agreed to from which there cannot be any
H
INDIA MOUSEHOLO AND HEALTHC.\.RE LTD I'. LG HOUSEHOLD AND HEALTHCARE LTD [SB sr~IL\, I.J 73 7

deviation. The Courts have held that the parties are required to comply A
with the procedure of appointment as agreed to and the defaulting
party cannot be allowed to take advantage of its own wrong."

25. For the views, I have taken, it is not necessary to consider the other
submissions made at the bar.
B
26. For the reasons aforementioned, this application is dismissed being
not maintainable at this stage. No costs.

N.J. Application dismissed.