Holding

A named arbitrator retains jurisdiction even after ceasing to hold the office referred to in his appointment, withdrawal of an objection amounts to acquiescence, and an inadvertent clerical mistake in minutes is not a ground for setting aside an award under Section 30.

Summary

Construction India entered into works contracts with the Government of Orissa and, after the respondents failed to refer disputes to arbitration, the parties appointed Shri G.S. Patnaik, Chairman of the Orissa Arbitration Tribunal, as a sole arbitrator under Section 8 of the Arbitration Act, 1940. During the arbitration, Patnaik ceased to be Chairman; the respondents filed a petition challenging his jurisdiction, which they later withdrew, and the arbitrator proceeded to give his award. The respondents contested the award in the High Court under Section 30, alleging a mistake in the minutes of a hearing amounted to non‑application of mind. The High Court set aside the award, but the Supreme Court held that a named arbitrator retains jurisdiction despite ceasing to hold the office, and that the respondents' withdrawal of their objection constituted acquiescence, precluding a later jurisdictional challenge. The Court also ruled that an inadvertent clerical error in the minutes does not satisfy the ground of non‑application of mind for setting aside an award. Consequently, the appeal was allowed, the High Court judgment set aside, and the lower court orders upholding the awards were affirmed.

Issues considered

The effect of an arbitrator's cessation of the office or designation mentioned in his appointment on his jurisdiction.
Whether withdrawal of an objection to the arbitrator's jurisdiction amounts to acquiescence that bars later challenge.
Whether an inadvertent mistake in recording minutes constitutes non‑application of mind under Section 30 of the Arbitration Act, 1940.

Legislation cited

Arbitration Act, 1940s. 30, s. 8

Subjects

ArbitrationJurisdiction of arbitratorAppointment by nameWithdrawal of objectionAcquiescenceSection 30Mistake in minutesNon‑application of mindArbitration Act 1940

Judgment

MIS. CONSTRUCTION INDIA A
v.
SECRETARY, WORKS DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF
ORISSA AND ORS.

DECEMBER 10, 1997
B
(SUJATA V. MANOHAR AND D.P. WADHWA, JJ.]

Arbitration Act, 1940 : Sections 8 and 30.

Award-Setting aside-Grozmd for-Jurisdiction of Arbitrator--Lack C
of-Appointment of Arbitrator-By name or designation-Court appointed
"Shri G.S. Patnaik, Chainnan, Arbitration Tribunal, Orissa" as Arbitrator by
consellt ofpa1ties under S.8-Arbitrator ceased to hold office dwing pendency
of arbitration proceedings-Held: Appoil!tment is of a named person-Hence,
even if he ceased to hold office during pendency of arbitration proceedings, D
he would colllinue to have jwisdiction with the arbitration-Objection to 'the
jwisdiction of Arbitrator raised but later withdrawn by party during arbitration
proceeding~~niereafter, Arbitrator pronounced his award-Held: Party con-
sciously acquiesced in the continued jurisdiction of the Arbitrator-Hence,
award cannot later be challenged on ground of lack of jurisdiction.
E
Section 30-Award-Setting aside-Grounds fo,--/nadvertent mis-
take-Held; Inadveltent mistake in recording minutes of a date cannot be a
ground for setting aside award.

The appellant had entered into an agreement with the respondents F
relating to a works contract The court appointed "Shri G.S. Patnaik,
Chairman, Arbitration Tribunal, Orissa" a~ Arbitrator under Section 8 of
the Arbitration Act, 1940 by consent of parties. While the arbitration
proceedings were going on, the Arbitrator ceased to be the Chair-
man of Arbitration Tribunal, Orissa. The respondents filed a peti- G
lion before the Arbitrator to the effect that the Arbitrator had no
jurisdiction to continue with the arbitration. However, the respondents
withdrew this petition as not pressed. Thereafter, the Arbitrator
pronounced his award.

Being aggrieved the respondent~ challenged the award before H
371.
372 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1997) SUPP. 6 S.C.R.

A the High Court. The High Court set aside the award under Section 30 of
the Act on the ground that there was a mistake in recording the minutes
of one date by the Arbitrator, which amounted to non-application of mind
by the Arbitrator. Hence this appeal.

On behalf of the appellants it was contended that the Ar-
B
bitrator was a named Arbitrator, who was appointed by consent of
parties and that be continued to have jurisdiction although he had
demitted bis office; that the res pond en ts did not press the objection as to
the jurisdiction of the Arbitrator; and that this would amount to acc1uies-
cence by the respondents to the continuation of the arbitration before the
C named Arbitrator.

On behalf of the respondents it was contended that the appointment
of the Arbitrator was an appointment by designation and hence he ceased
to have jurisdiction when he demitted the office of the Chairman, Arbitra-
D tion Tribunal, Orissa.

Allowing the appeal, this Court

HELD : 1. The parties may choose an Arbitrator for various reasons.
E They may rely on his expertise or his special skills at the time when they
choose the Arbitrator. When the Arbitrator is named, unless there is a
clear intention spelt out in the agreement of reference to indicate that he
would continue to be an Arbitrator only so long as he holds a particular
office, a mere reference to the office held by the Arbitrator will not
disqualify him from being an Arbitrator after he ceases to hold that office.
F The order of appointment clearly shows that the appointment of Shri G.S.
Patanaik, Chairman of ~be Orissa Arbitration Tribunal, is of a named .
Arbitrator. The order of appointment does not qualify this appointment
either by prescribing that he can act as an Arbitrator so long as he ....,
continues as Chairman of the Orissa Arbitration Tribunal; nor is there
G any implication to this effect in the Court's order. The reference to arbitra-
tion is also not to the Orissa Arbitration Trib1mal. This would require
three members constituting the Tribunal to sit together. Therefore, it is
difficult to hold that the Arbitrator who was named was to act as an
Arbitrator only so long as he held the office of the Chairman of the Orissa (
H Arbitration Tribunal. The Arbitrator, therefore, had jurisdiction to give
CONSlRUCTJON INDIA v. SECY. WORKS DEPlT. GOVT. OF ORISSA 373
the awards. [375-F-H; 376-A] A

Smt. Pratima Sarkar v. C01poratio11 of Calcutta, AIR (1973) Cal. 434,
approved.

Union of India v. Ch. Radha11ath Nanda, AIR (1961) Ori 143; M1:1·.
Sushi/a Seth v. State of M.P., AIR (1980) Del. 244; Hwi Dutt Bhardwaj v. B
Hwyana State Agiirnlture Marketing Board, Punchkula, AIR (1989) SC 1670
and Union of India v. Prabhat Kumar a11d Bros., [1995] Supp. 4 SCC 525,
distinguished.

2. The jurisdiction, which is conferred on an Arbitrator, is on ac-
count of the consent of the parties to the arbitration agreement. Before the C
Arbitrator, the objection as to jurisdiction of the Arbitrator was
withdrawn by the respondents: This would indicate a conscious acquies-
cence on the part of the respondents in the continued jurisdiction of the
Arbitrator. [377-G-H; 378-A]

N. Chellappan v. Secretwy, Kera/a State Electlicity Board, [1975] 2 D
SCR 811; C/10wdhwi Mwtaza Hossei11 v. Mussumat Bibi Beclwnnissa, III
IA 209 and Prasu11 Roy v. Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority,
[1987] 3 SCR 569, relied on.

Russell on Arbitration, 17th Edition, p. 215 referred to.
E
3. Inadvertent mistakes cannot be construed as non-application of
mind by the Arbitrator. A mistake in recording the minutes of one date
cannot be the ground for setting aside the arbitration award. [379-C-D]

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 858 of
1987 F
WITH

C.A. No. 7/6/91 and C.A. No. 8829/97 arising out of SLP (C) No.
9060/91.
G
From the Judgment and Order dated 12.2.86 of the Orissa High
Court in M.A. No. 57 of 1983.

Vinoo Bhagat for the Appellant.

Jayant Das, R.K. Mehta and P.N. Misra for the Respondents. H
374 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1997) SUPP. 6 S.C.R.

A The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

MRS. SUJATA V. MANOHAR, J. Leave granted in S.L.P. (C) No.
9060 of 1991.

The appellant in these three appeals had entered into three separate
B agreements with the respondents relating to a works contract. The arbitra-
tion clauses under these three contracts were similar and required a
reference being made to the Superintending Engineer of the respondents
unconnected with the work. However, as the respondents did not refer the
disputes to arbitration, an application was made by the appellant under
Section 8 of the Arbitration Act of 1940. The Court passed the following
C order dated 15.9.1981 on the application by consent of parties from the
panel of names given by both parties. Both the panels contained the name
of Shri G.S. Patnaik. The order was as follows :

"Both the parties have filed panel of names for appointment of
Arbitrator. Heard. Shri G.S. Patnaik, Chairman, Arbitration
D Tribunal, Orissa, is appointed as sole arbit~ator, send the reference
to him."

Accordingly, arbitration proceedings were commenced by the Ar-
bitrator. The appellant filed separate statements of case in each of the
E three cases. The respondents filed their counter claim and/or replies. The
parties were heard and the impugned Awards were pronounced by the
Arbitrator on 17th of March, 1982.

The respondents challenged these Awards on the ground that while
the arbitration proceedings were going on, the Arbitrator, on 19th of

F
February, 1982 ceased to be the Chairman of the Orissa Arbitration
Tribunal. On 3rd of March, 1982 the respondents filed a petition before
the Arbitrator to the effect that since the Arbitrator had ceased to be the
Chairman of the Orissa Arbitration Tribunal, he had no jurisdiction to
continue with arbitration. The appellant filed his objections to this applica-
-
tion. On 9th of March, 1982, the Arbitrator made the following record :
G
"Claimant and his Advocate present. A.G.P. Bhubaneswar present
on behalf of respondent. Heard on the petition of A.G.P. filed
earlier and objections of claimant. I have been appointed by name I
as sole Arbitrator. A.G.P. also does not press his petition any !
further. Hence, petition is rejected as not pressed. Hearing of the
H arbitration case stands closed. Orders reserved for pronouncing I'
I
I
l
CONSTRUCTION INDIA v. SECY. WORKS DEPTI. GOVf. OF ORISSA [SUJATA V. MANOHAR,J.] 375
award. Claimant to file stamp paper." A

Thereafter, the Arbitrator pronounced his Award on 17th of March, 1982.

lt is contended by the respondents that the appointment of the
Arbitrator Shri G.S. Patnaik was an appointment by designation and hence B
he ceased to have jurisdiction when he demitted the office of the Chairman,
Orissa Arbitration Tribunal. While the appellant contends that the
Arbitrator is a named Arbitrator, who is appointed by consent of parties
and that he continues to have jurisdiction, although he may have demitted
his office as the Chairman of the Orissa Arbitration Tribunal. The appel-
lant also relies upon the proceedings before the Arbitrator of 9th of March, C
1982 when the objection as to the jurisdiction of the Arbitrator on his
demiting office was not pressed by the respondents. According to the
appellant this will amount to acquiescence by the respondents ·to the
continuation of the arbitration before the named Arbitrator. Since they
have so acquiesced, they c;mnot object to his arbitration. D

The order of appointment clearly shows that the appointment of Shri
G.S. Pattanaik, Chairman of the Orissa Arbitration Tribunal, is of a named
Arbitrator. The order of appointment does not qualify this appointment
either by prescribing that he can act as an Arbitrator so long as he
continues as Chairman of the Orissa Arbitration Tribunal; nor is there any E -
implication to this effect in the sub-Court's order. The reference to arbitra-
tion is also not to the Orissa Arbitration Tribunal. This would require three
members constituting the Tribunal to sit together. Therefore, it is difficult
to hold that the Arbitrator who was named was to act as an Arbitrator only
so long as he held the office of the Chairman of the Orissa Arbitration F
Tribunal. The parties may choose an Arbitrator for various reasons. They
may rely on his expertise or his special skills at the time when they choose
the Arbitrator. According to the respondents they agreed to the name
because there were departmental instructions to refer disputes to the
arbitration of any member of the Orissa Arbitration Tribunal. But when
the Arbitrator is named, unless there is a clear intention spelt out in the G
agreement of reference to indicate that he would continue to be an
Arbitrator only so long as he holds a particular office, a mere reference to
the office held by the Arbitrator will not disqualify him from being an
Arbitrator after he ceases to hold that office. The arbitrator, therefore, had
jurisdiction to give the awards. H
376 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1997] SUPP. 6 S.C.R.

A Our attention was drawn to a decision of the Calcutta High Court in
the case of Smt. Pratima Sarkar v. Cmporation of Calcutta & Ors., AIR
(1973) Calcutta 434 at 437. The parties agreed to settle their dispute on
the basis of a report which was to be submitted by Respondent No. 3. The
order in this connection, which was passed, records, "Owing to the techni-
cal nature of the dispute involved in this case, it would be better to have
B all the questions in dispute between the parties decided by the Commis-
sioner of the Corporation of Calcutta, who is Respondent No. 3 ........ " The
High Court pointed out that while Respondent No. 2 was the Commis-
sioner of the Corporation of Calcutta, Respondent No. 3 was the same
person who was impleaded in his personal capacity. Therefore, although
C the Arbitrator was named and described by his designation, this was a case
where Respondent No. 3 was personally selected by the parties on account
of his technical qualifications. He does not cease to have jurisdiction on
his ceasing to be the Commissioner of the Corporation of Calcutta.

D There were two other judgments cited, one of the Orissa High Court
in the case of Union of India v. Ch. Radhanath Nanda & Anr., AIR (1961)
Orissa 143 and the other of the Delhi High Court in the case of M1~-. Sushi/a
Seth & Ors. v. The State of Madhya Pradesh, AIR (1980) Delhi 244. In both
the cases, in the arbitration agreement, the Arbitrator was described with
reference to the office he was holding. The name of the Arbitrator was not
E mentioned. In the case before the Orissa High Court, the High Court said
that the identity of the Arbitrator had to be determined with reference to
the point of time when a reference was made to arbitration. Whoever was
holding that office on the date of the reference was the arbitrator. What is
more, although he is not named as such, he can dispose of the reference
F even though he may be transferred elsewhere prior to giving his decision.

In the case before the Delhi High Court, the words in the Arbitration
clause, "the Chief Engineer of the circle for the time being" were held to
refer, in the context of that case, lo the Chief Engineer at the time when
the dispute arose. The Court observed that the relevant time will depend
G upon "the context of the facts and the object of the Arbitration". Neither
of these two cases are of any direct assistance in the present case when
there is no dispute about the identity of the Arbitrator who has been
expressly named in the order of reference.

H The respondents relied upon a decision of this Court in Hwi Dutt
CONSTRUCTION INDIA v. SECY. WORKS DEP'IT. GOVT. OF ORISSA [SUJATA V. MANOHAR J.[ 377
Bhardwaj v. Haryana State Agriculture Marketing Board, Punch/at/a & Anr., A
(AIR (1989) SC 1670). In this case the Arbitrator was a Superintending
Engineer on deputation to the Marketing Board. While he was conducting
arbitration proceedings he was reverted to his parent department. But by
a subsequent order he was redeputed as Superintending Engineer of the
Marketing Board. He then completed the arbitration proceedings and gave
B
his Award. The Court said that he had jurisdiction to complete the arbitra-
tion proceedings and give his Award. It was contended that this decision
is to the effect that once the Arbitrator ceased to be on deputation to the
Marketing Board, he would not have jurisdiction to continue as an
Arbitrator. But this question was not required to be dealt with al all, nor
has this Court given any finding on this question because the person c
concerned was redeputed to the same post_ There was, therefore, no
difficulty in holding that .he had jurisdiction. This case therefore, does not
assist the respond(:nts.

The respondents also relied upon a decision of this Court in the case D
of Union of India & Ors. v. Prabhat Kumar and Brors. & Anr., [1995] Supp.
4 SCC 525. Under the arbitration clause, all disputes between the parties
to the contract were to be referred to the sole arbitration of an Engineer
officer to be appointed by the authority mentioned in the tender docu-
ments. The clause further provided that if the Arbitrator so resigns his
appointment or (inter alia) vacates his office, the authority appointing him E
may appoint a new Arbitrator to act in his place. The Arbitrator who was
so appointed conducted the proceedings until he voluntarily retired from
Government service. This Court held that looking to the Arbitration clause,
the Arbitrator ceased to be an Arbitrator on his retirement. In terms of
the Arbitration clause, the Union of India was competent to appoint a new F
Arbitrator. This decision turns entirely on the Arbitration clause where it
is expressly provided that in the case, inter alia, of the Arbitrator ceasing
to hold office, a new Arbitrator has to be appointed. This case also does
not help the respondents as the present Arbitration reference does not
contain any such provision.
G
The jurisdiction which is conferred on an Arbitrator is on account of
the consent of the parties to the arbitration agreement. Before the
Arbitrator, the objection as to jurisdiction of the Arbitrator was withdrawn
by the respondents. It shows acquiescence on the part of the respondents
in the continued jurisdiction of the Arbitrator to decide the dispute. The H
378 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1997] SUPP. 6 S.C.R.

A minutes recorded show that after raising the objection, the respondents
have withdrawn the same. This would indicate a conscious acquiescence
on the part of the respondents in the continued jurisdiction of the
Arbitrator. In the case of N. Chellappan v. Secretary, Kera/a State Electlicity
Board & Anr., [1975) 2 SCR 811 at 817, this Court on similar grounds held
that the State Electricity Board was precluded from challenging the juris-
B diction of the umpire. A Passage from Russell on Arbitration, 17th Edition
at page 215 was relied upon. It is to the following effect :

"If the parties to the reference either agree beforehand to the
method of appointment, or afterwards acquiesce in the appoint-
c ment made, with full knowledge of all the circumstances, they will
be precluded from objecting to such appointment as invalidating
subsequent proceedings"'."Attending and taking part in the proceed-
ings with full knowledge of the relevant fact will amount to such
acquiescence."

D It has also relied upon a decision of Privy Council in the case of
Chowdhari Mwtaza Hossein v. Mussumat Bibi Bechwmissa, (III I.A. 209).

The same passages have been quoted by this Court in a later judg-
ment in the case of Prasun Roy v. Calcutta Metropolitan Development
Authority & Anr., [1987) 3 SCR 569 at 574, where this Court said that long
E participation and acquiescence in the arbitration proceedings preclude a
party from contending that the proceedings were without jurisdiction.
Therefore, on this ground also the appellant is entitled to succeed.

In Civil Appeal No. 858/87 one additional point was examined by the
High Court. The Arbitrator had maintained three sets of minutes relating
F
to the three proceedings before him, although they were heard together.
In the minutes of 27th of February, 1982, which relate to the set of 30 claims
which are the subject matter of Civil Appeal No. 858/1987, one of the
sentences is as follows :

G "Put up on 2.3.82 at 9.A.M. for hearing on the law points and claim items
31 to 37....... "

Minutes of the same date viz. 27.2.82 pertaining to the set of claims
in Civil Appeal No. 716/1991, contains the following sentence :

H "Put up on 27.2.82 at 9 A.M. for filing counter claim and objection
CONSTRUCTION INDIA, .. SECY. WORKS DEPT!'. GOVT. OF ORISSA !SUJATA V. MANOHAR.J.J 379

thereon." A
In the same minute book for the earlier date i.e. 20.2.82 it is stated, inter
alia :

"Heard claimants on claim items 31 to 37."
B
Clearly the reference to hearing claimants on claim items 31 to 37
has a reference to the claims which are the subject matter of Civil Appeal
No. 716/1991. The reference to claims 31 to 37 in the minutes relating to
claims in Civil Appeal No. 858/1987 appears to be a mistake. The High
Court, however, has, on its own, considered this as a case of non-applica-
tion of mind by the Arbitrator to the disputes before him. This issue was c
not raised by the respondents at any time and even in the grounds of appeal
filed in the High Court. In our view, this inadvertent reference to claim
items 31 to 37 pertaining to the claims in other disputes before the
Arbitrator between the same parties, cannot be construed as non-applica-
tion of mind by the Arbitrator. All the three disputes were being heard D
simultaneously by the Arbitrator and the dates in the minute books are a
clear indication of this fact. A mistake in recording the minutes of one date
cannot be the ground for setting aside the arbitration Award.

The appeals are, therefore, allowed. The impugned judgment of the
High Court is set aside. The orders of the Subordinate Judge upholding E.
the Awards and granting decrees in terms of the Awards are upheld.

V.S.S. Appeals allowed.

•.