Holding

Clause 30 is a valid arbitration agreement, making the Superintending Engineer’s award enforceable.

Summary

The appellant, a contractor, executed a contract with Gulbarga University for constructing an indoor stadium. Clause 30 of the contract stipulated that any dispute would be decided by the Superintending Engineer of the Gulbarga Circle, whose decision would be final and binding. After the Engineer rendered an award, the university objected to its execution under CPC §47, and the Karnataka High Court set aside the award, holding that Clause 30 was not an arbitration agreement. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the essential elements of an arbitration agreement as laid down in Bihar State Mineral Development Corp. v. Encon Builders and held that Clause 30 satisfied all criteria: a present/future dispute, intention to refer it to a private tribunal, written agreement to be bound by the decision, and ad idem. The Court further noted that the parties had participated in the arbitration process, that natural‑justice principles were observed, and that the Superintending Engineer functioned as an arbitrator. Consequently, the award was deemed valid and enforceable, and the execution proceedings were ordered to continue.

Issues considered

Whether Clause 30 of the contract constitutes a valid arbitration agreement within the meaning of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
Whether the award rendered by the Superintending Engineer is enforceable despite the university's objection under CPC §47.
Whether the university could have challenged the award under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 instead of CPC §47.

Legislation cited

Arbitration Act, 1940
Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996s. 34
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908s. 115, s. 47

Subjects

arbitration agreementaward enforcementCPC 47 objectionconstruction contractSuperintending Engineernatural justice

Judgment

A MALLJKARJUN
v.
GULBARGA UNIVERSITY

NOVEMBER 5, 2003

B [V.N. KHARE, CJ., S.B. SINHA AND DR. AR. LAKSHMANAN, JJ.]

Arbitration :

Arbitration agreement-Essential elements of-Work contract-Assigned
C to contractor by University-(:lause in the agreement stipulating that in case
of dispute between parties arising out of or relating to contract, decision of
Superintending Engineer, P WD shall be final, conclusive and binding-Dispute
between parties-Award given by Superintending Engineer made rule ofcourt-
In execution proceedings objections filed by University uls 47 CPC contending
D that the purported agreement on the basis whereof dispute between the parties
was referred to Superintending Engineer was not an arbitration agreement
and as such award made by him was not in terms ofprovisions of Arbitration
Act, 1940-Held, the relevant clause should be construed to be an arbitration
agreement-The agreement did contain an arbitration clause-Essential
elements of arbitration agreement enumerated-Besides, before the arbitrator
E parties proceeded on the basis that a reference of the disputes had been made
to him in terms of the relevant clause of the contract which was construed to
be an arbitration agreement-No objection was taken by University in this
regard nor any objection filed by it in terms of s.34 of Arbitration and
Conciliation Act, 1996-Arbitrator entered into the reference in view of the
F reference made by the Registrar of the University on the claims and disputes
arising out of contract-Executing court would proceed with the execution of
the award

Arbitration clause and clause for prevention of dispute--Distinguished

G Bihar State Mineral Development Corporation and Anr. v. Encon Builders
(/) (P) Ltd, (2003) 7 SCC 418, relied on.

Bharat Bhushan Bapsal v. UP. Small Industries Corporation Ltd.,
Kanpur, [1999) 2 SCC 166, distinguished.

H 272
MALLIKARJUN v. GULBARGA UNIVERSITY 273
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 2758 of 2002. A
From the Judgment and Order dated 30.11.200 I of the Kamataka High
Court in C.R.P. No. 3719 of 2000.

Bhaskar P. Gupta, G.V. Chandrashekhar for P.P. Singh for the Appellant.
B
Basava Prabhu, S. Patil, Shivaprabhu S. Hiremath, B. Subrahmanya
Prasad, Mohd. Rishal S. for A.S. Bhasme for the Respondent.

The following Order of the Court was delivered by

In response to the Notification issued by the Gulbarga University inviting C
tenders for construction of an Indoor Stadium, the appellant herein submitted
his tender. His tender was accepted and on 21st May, 1993, an agreement
was executed between the appellant and the respondent-University in
connection with the work to be carried out by the appellant. The estimated
cost of construction for the work order issued to the appellant was for Rs.
91,88,909. It is not disputed that in pursuance of the work order, the appellant D
completed the construction. Certain disputes arose in relation where to the
appellant herein invoked the arbitration clause. It is not in dispute that the
Superintending Engineer, P.W.D., Gulbarga Circle, Gulbarga, ex-officio, was
named to decide such disputes. Before the Arbitrator, the parties filed their
claims and counter claims. The University also filed certain counter claims. E
After hearing the parties, the Superintending Engineer, Gulbarga Circle,
Gulbarga, who acted as an Arbitrator, gave the Award. However, no copy of
the Award was furnished to the appellant as a result of which the appellant
filed a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issue of writ
of mandamus directing the Arbitrator to deliver a certified copy of the Award F
given by him. In compliance of the directions of the High Court, the Arbitrator
sent a certified copy of the Award dated 30th July, 1999. After the receipt
of the certified copy of the Award, the appellant put the Award for execution
before the Principal Civil Judge (Senior Division), Gulbarga. The Gulbarga
University filed an objection in the execution petition filed by the appellant
purported to be under Section 47 of the Code of Civil Procedure. However, G
the Executing Court rejected the said objection on 19th October, 2000.
Aggrieved, the Gulbarga University filed a Civil Revision Petition No. 3719
of 2000 under Section 115 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 before the
High Court of Kamataka.

In the said Civil Revision Petition a plea was raised that the purported H
274 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] SUPP. 5 S.C.R.

A agreement on the basis whereof the dispute between the parties was referred
to the Superintending engineer, Gulbarga Circle, Gulbarga, was not an
arbitration agreement and consequently, the Award made by him is not one
made in terms of the provisions of the Arbitration Act, 1940. The High Court
accepted the plea taken by the University. Consequently, the execution
B proceedings were set aside and the Civil Revision Petition was allowed. It is
against the said judgment of the High Court, the appellant is in appeal before
us.

Shri Bhaskar P. Gupta, learned senior counsel appearing for the appellant,
submitted that Clause 30 of the contract agreement constitutes an arbitration
C agreement as the same fulfills all the criteria laid down therefor and, thus, the·
High Court must be held to have erred in passing the impugned judgment.

Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent on the other
hand support the judgment of the High Court.

D Clause 30 of the agreement, which reads as under:

"The decision of the Superintending Engineer of the Gulbarga Circle
for the time being shall be final, conclusive, and binding on all parties
to the contract upon all question relating to the meaning of the
specifications, designs, drawings and instructions herein before
E mentioned and as to the quality of workmanship or material used on
the work, or as to any other question, claim, right, matter, or thing
whatsoever, in any way arising out of, or relating to the contract,
designs, drawings, specifications, estimates, instructions, orders or
those conditions, or otherwise concerning the works or the execution,
or failure to execute the same, whether arising during the progress of
F
the· work, or after the completion or abandonment thereof in case of
dispute arising between the contractor and Gulbarga University."

(Emphasis supplied)

G A plain reading of the aforementioned clause would show that in case
of dispute between the contractor and Gulbarga university, the decision of
the Superintending Engineer of the Gulbarga Circle, Gulbarga, shall be final
and binding to all parties to the contract, such dispute may embrace within
its fold all questions relating to the matters specified therein as also any other
question, claim, right, matter or thing whatsoever in any way arising out of
H or relating to the contract. Such dispute may also relate to designs, drawings,
MALLIKARJUN v. GULBARGA UNIVERSITY 275
specifications, estimates, instructions, orders or those conditions or otherwise A
concerning the works or the execution or failure to execute the same. Such
disputes may be referred to for decision of the Superintending Engineer;
whether arising during the progress of the work after the completion thereof.

There cannot, thus, be any doubt whatsoever that Clause 30
aforementioned fulfills all the criteria of a valid arbitration agreement. It is B
further not in dispute that the Superintending Engineer, Gulbarga Circle,
Gulbarga is an independent person.

Jn Bihar State Mineral Development Corporation and Anr. v. Encon
Builders(/) (p) Ltd., reported in [2003] 7 SCC 418, laid down the essential C
elements of the arbitration agreement, which are as follows:

(i) There must be a present or a future difference in connection with
some contemplated affair;

(ii) There must be the intention of the parties to settle such difference
by a private tribunal; D
(iii) The parties must agree in writing to be bound by·the decision of
such tribunal; and
(iv) The parties must be ad idem.

The principles laid down in the aforementioned decision are not in E
question. We, therefore, are required to construe Clause 30 of the said
agreement.

Applying the aforesaid principle to the present case, Clause 30 requires
that the Superintending Engineer, Gulbarga Circle, Gulbarga, to give his
decision on any dispute that may arise out of the contract. Further we also F
find that the agreement postulates present or future differences in connection
with some contemplated affairs inasmuch as also there was an agreement
between the parties to settle such difference by a private tribunal, namely, the
Superintending Engineer, Gulbarga Circle, Gulbarga. It was also agreed
between the parties that they would be bound by the decision of the tribunal. · G
The parties were also ad idem.

In the aforesaid view of the matter, it must be held that the agreement
did contain an arbitration clause.

Learned counsel appearing for the respondent, relying on or on the H

t,
•

276 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2003] SUPP. 5 S.C.R.

A basis of the decision of this Court in Bharat Bhushan Bansal v. UP. Small
Industries Corporation Ltd., Kanpur, reported in [ 1999] 2 SCC 166, argued
that in the said case it was held by this Court that it does not constitute
arbitration clause. In Bharat Bhushan Bansal's case (supra), Clauses 23 and
24 read as follows:

B "23. Except where otherwise specified in the contract, the decision
of the Executive Engineer shall be final, conclusive and binding on
both the parties to the contract on all questions relating to the meaning,
the specification, design, drawings and instructions hereinbefore
mentioned, and as to the quality of workmanship or materials used on
the work or as to any other question whatsoever in any way arising
c out of or relating to the designs, drawings, specifications, estimates,
instructions, orders or otherwise concerning the works or the execution
or failure to execute the same whether arising during the progress of
the work, or after the completion thereof or abandonment of the
contract by the contractor shall be final and conclusive and binding
D on the contractor.

24. Except as provided in clause 23 hereof, the decision of the
Managing Director of the UPSIC shall be final, conclusive and binding
on both the parties to the contact upon all questions relating to any
claim, right, matter or thing in any way arising .out of or relating to
E the contract or these conditions or concerning abandonment of the
contract by the contractor and in respect of all other matters arising
out of this contract and not specifically mentioned herein."

It was difficult for the Court to spell out any intention of the parties to
appoint the Managing Director as an Arbitrator having regard to the contents
F of the said two clauses. We may refer to the observations of this Court
therein made in this regard, which are as under:

"Therefore, in respect of certain claims, the decision of the
Executive Engineer is final and binding on both the parties to the
contract. While in respect of the remaining matters, the decision of
G the Managing Director of the respondent is final, conclusive and
binding on both the parties to the contract. Clause 24 does not mention
that may dispute can be referred to the arbitration of the Managing
Director. Clause 24 also does not spell out any duty on the part of the
Managing Director to record evidence or to hear both parties before
H deciding the questions before him. From the wording of clause 24, it
MALLIKARJUN v. GULBARGA UNIVERSITY 277
is difficult to spell out any intention of the parties to leave, any A
disputes to the adjudication of the Managing Director of the respondent
as an arbitrator."

Para 5 of Bharat Bhushan Bansal 's case (supra) reads as thus:

"In the present case, reading clauses 23 and 24 together, it is B
quite clear that in respect of questions arising from or relating to any
claim or right, matter or thing in any way connected with the contract,
while the decision of the Executive Engineer is made final and binding
in respect of certain types of claims or questions, the decision of the
Managing Director is made final and binding in respect of the
remaining claims. Both the Executive Engineer as well as the C
Managing Director are expected to determine the question or claim
on the basis of their own investigations and material. Neither of the
clauses contemplates a full-fledged arbitration covered by the
Arbitration Act."

A bare comparison of Clause 30 of the contract agreement involved in D
the present matter and clauses 23 and 24 involved in Bharat Bhushan Bansal 's
case (supra), it would show that they are not identical. Whereas Clause 30 of
the agreement in question provides for resolution of the dispute arising out
of contract by persons named therein; in terms of Clause 24, there was no
question of decision by a named person on the dispute raised by the parties E
to the agreement. The matters which are specified under Clauses 23 and 24
in Bharat Bhushan Bansal's case (supra) were necessarily not required to
arise out of the contract, but merely claims arising during performance of the
contract. Clause 30 of the agreement in the present case did provide for
resolution of dispute arising out of contract by the Superintending Engineer,
Gulbarga Circle, Gulbarga. For that reason, the case relied upon by the learned F
counsel for the respondent is distinguishable.

Once Clause 30 is constitute to be a valid arbitration agreement it
would necessarily follow that the decision of the Arbitrator named therein
would be rendered only upon allowing the parties to adduce evidence in G
support of their respective claims and counter claims as also upon hearing the
parties to the dispute. For the purpose of constituting the valid arbitration
agreement, it is not necessary that the conditions as regards adduction of
evidence by the parties or giving an opportunity of hearing to them must
specifically be mentioned therein. Such conditions, it is trite are implicit in
the decision making process in the arbitration proceedings. Compliance of H
278 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2003] SUPP. 5 S.C.R.

A the principles of natural justice inheres in an arbitration process. They,
irrespective of the fact as to whether recorded specifically in the arbitration
agreement or not are required to be followed. Once the principles of natural
justice are not complied with, the Award made by the Arbitrator would be
rendered invalid. We, therefore, are of the opinion that the arbitration clause
B does not necessitate spelling out of a duty on the part of the arbitrator to hear
both parties before deciding the question before him. The expression decision'
subsumes adjudication of the dispute. Here in the instant case, it will bear
repetition to state, that the disputes between the parties arise out of a contract
and in relation to matters specified therein and, thus, were required to be
decided and such decisions are not only final and binding on the parties, but
C they are conclusive which clearly spells out the finality of such decisions as
also its binding nature.

A clause which is inserted in a contract agreement for the purpose of
prevention of dispute will not be an arbitration agreement. Such a provision
has been made in the agreement itself by conferring power upon the Engineer
D In-charge to take a decision thereupon in relation to the matters envisaged
under Clauses 31 and 32 of the said agreement. Causes 31 and 32 of the said
agreement provide for a decision of the Engineer In-charge in relation to the
matters specified therein. The jurisdiction of the Engineer In-charge in relation
to such matters is limited and they cannot be equated with an arbitration
E agreement. Despite such clauses meant for prevention of dispute arising out
of a contract, significantly Clause 30 has been inserted in the contract
agreement by <he parties.

The very fact that Clause 30 has been inserted by the parties despite the
clauses for prevention of dispute is itself a pointer to the fact that the parties
p to the contract were ad idem that the dispute and differences arising out of
or under the contract should be determined by a domestic tribunal chosen by
them.

The said clause being a part of the contract agreement, it is beyond any
cavil that the parties were ad idem in relation thereto.
G
The Superintending Engineer, Gulbarga Circle, Gulbarga, is an officer
of the Public Works Department in the Government of Kamataka. He is not
an officer of the University. He did not have .any authority or jurisdiction
under the agreement or otherwise either to supervise the construction works
or issue any direction(s) upon the contractor in relation to the contract job.
H He might be an "ex-officio member of the building committee, but thereby or
MALLIKARJUN v. GULBARGA UNIVERSITY 279
by a reason thereof, he could not have been given nor in fact had been given A
an authority to supervise the contract job or for that matter issue any direction
upon the contract as regards performance of the contract.

In that view of the matter also Clause 30 of the contract agreement
should be construed to be an arbitration agreement.
B
The submission of the learned counsel for the respondent that the dispute
was not referred to the Arbitrator is not correct. Whatever be the understanding
of the Vice Chancellor of the respondent-University; before the Arbitrator the
parties proceeded on the basis that a reference of the disputes had been made
to him in terms of Clause 30 of the contract, which was construed to be an
arbitration agreement. Further from the Award dated 30th July, 1999, it would C
appear that the Arbitrator entered into the reference in view of the reference
made by the Registrar of the Gulbarga University on the claims and disputes
arising out of contract of "Construction of Indoor stadium at university
Campus", which has arisen between the parties hereto.
D
Learned counsel for the respondent then urged that his client has not
been given sufficient opportunity to lead evidence. The contention cannot be
accepted for more than one reason. The matter was heard by the Arbitrator.
Both the parties were represented by their agents and authorised
representatives. It will bear repetition to state that claims and counter claims
were filed by the parties and they filed documents in support of their respective E
claims.

The learned Arbitrator in his Award recorded that the parties v. Jre
given full opportunity to present their case and have their say on each of their
claims and contentions in the meeting held in his office on 5.3.99. The
Arbitrator in his Award further stated that as the parties based their cases F
only on the documents and did not pray for adduction of oral evidence and
in that view of the matter, in our opinion the Award cannot be faulted.
Furthermore, concededly during the arbitration proceedings and immediately
thereafter, no objection was taken by the respondent to the effect that Clause
30 does not constitute an arbitration agreement or the Superintending Engineer, G
Gulbarga Circle, Gulbarga, was not an Arbitrator. If the contention of the
respondent is to be accepted, there was no occasion for them to submit their
counter claim. They should have filed a suit. With their eyes wide open they
submitted themselves to the jurisdiction of the Arbitrator, filed documents in
support of their defence to the claims raised by the appellant as also their
H
280 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2003) SUPP. 5 S.C.R.

A own counter claims and took part in the proceedings. Even when an Award
was made and the appellant herein filed a writ petition for direction upon the
Arbitrator to issue a certified copy of the Award, it was not contended that
the said writ petition was not maintainable as the Superintending Engineer,
Gulbarga Circle, Gulbarga, did not act as an Arbitrator. When a writ was
B issued by the High Court of Karanataka to the Arbitrator, directing him to
furnish a certified copy of his Award, the respondent herein must be held to
have accepted the same as it did not carry the matter further.

Then took the said objection orly in their purported objection filed in
the execution proceedings under Section 47 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
C If their contention was that the Award made by the Superintending Engineer,
Gulbarga Circle, Gulbarga, was without any authority or beyond his
jurisdiction, they could have furthermore filed an appropriate application in
terms of Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.

For the aforesaid reason, the appeal deserves to be allowed. The order
D under challenge is set aside. We direct the executing Court to proceed with
the execution of the Award. There shall be 11u order as to costs.

R.P. Appeal allowed.