{"id":14264,"date":"2024-04-11T15:41:46","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T15:41:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jgu.edu.in\/mappingADR\/?p=14264"},"modified":"2024-04-11T15:41:46","modified_gmt":"2024-04-11T15:41:46","slug":"m-s-tci-infrastructure-limited-and-anr-v-m-s-kirby-building-systems-uttaranchal-private-limited","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jgu.edu.in\/mappingADR\/m-s-tci-infrastructure-limited-and-anr-v-m-s-kirby-building-systems-uttaranchal-private-limited\/","title":{"rendered":"M\/s TCI Infrastructure Limited and Anr. v. M\/s. Kirby Building Systems (Uttaranchal) Private Limited"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-d5201ebb7bb980ee682edd4ee7e240b5 wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"foo\"><strong>Judgment Name:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.livelaw.in\/pdf_upload\/tci-infrastructure-limited-anr-versus-kirby-building-systems-uttaranchal-private-limited-anr-436109.pdf\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><em>M\/s TCI Infrastructure Limited and Anr. <\/em>v.<em> M\/s. Kirby Building Systems (Uttaranchal) Private Limited and Anr<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-fe0ed2bf6886d83d42b129d230f808b9 wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"egtil\"><strong>Citation:<\/strong> Writ Petition No. 5377 of 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-a06fa3f21c0b6ec76bc52fa2fdad5466 wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"742u9\"><strong>Court:<\/strong> The High Court of Bombay<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-48c7e942941994e2ecee8d4b2dc262d5 wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"dsv54\"><strong>Coram:<\/strong> Manish Pitale, J.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-954741104464df23fb2a87fe290b07ea wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"dqe60\"><strong>Date:<\/strong> 19th September 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-18f702410dfd972f41dd6119b9e2e1d0 wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"7ek0c\"><strong>Keywords: <\/strong>Section 8, Arbitration &amp; Conciliation Act, 1996 (the \u201cA&amp;C Act\u201d), unilaterally signed proposal, arbitration agreement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-1ea30851d306ea61091bbdc44813def2 wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"coals\"><strong>Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-64d31ced0b3bcadf1e6cad976ae16c63 wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"e2m8n\">A Single-Judge Bench of the Bombay High Court ruled that the mere reference to a proposal containing an arbitration clause unilaterally signed by one party would not amount to an arbitration agreement coming into existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-c18ff2e286a8eff81a658a9b8ba7fad8 wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"fjq9k\"><strong>Facts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-5850b51f3d7029254240b52bad3651ff wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"f8ldg\">The dispute relates to a contract whereby M\/s. TCI Infrastructure Limited (\u201cTCIIL\u201d) engaged M\/s. Kirby Building Systems (Uttaranchal) Private Limited (\u201cKBSUPL\u201d) for the construction of a warehouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-ff473e1deedc7c7cd87cdf8c43d7646c wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"e3t9d\">On 26th June 2012, KBSUPL, by way of a letter, forwarded a proposal dated 10th May 2012 to TCIIL. The proposal was unliterally signed by KBSUPL and contained an arbitration agreement in Clause 14. TCIIL responded by issuing a letter of intent on 12th July 2012 for the supply of pre-fabricated steel building against the offer made by KBSUPL. The letter of intent made reference to the proposal made by KBSUPL in its letter of 26th June 2012 and also subsequent discussions between the parties. Besides outlining the requirements of the prefabricated steel building in respect of the measurement and material, the letter of intent also contained certain terms and conditions; however, it made no reference to any arbitration clause for the resolution of disputes between the parties. The letter of intent was the only document signed by representatives of both TCIIL and KSBUPL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-4a094451797a90b0db03fc7cdeadf82b wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"f7emt\">Following that, on 16th July 2012, TCIIL issued the purchase order to KBSUPL, which also made reference to the letter dated 26th June 2012 containing the proposal, subsequent discussions, and the letter of intent dated 12th July 2012. This purchase order, signed only by TCIIL, contained a reiteration of the specifications of the prefabricated steel building, as provided in the letter of intent, and also specified terms and conditions (including a force majeure clause); however, there was no clause to signify an arbitration agreement between the parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-7958324814dc6ec674499a779f5f8a57 wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"2f9q4\">In 2017, TCIIL filed Special Civil Suit No. 324 of 2017 against KBSUPL for recovery of a specific amount on the ground that KBSUPL had used sub-standard material in the execution of the contract and construction of the warehouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-c2025a9c32fa2b97062c1762223e9cf7 wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"ftt64\">KBSUPL filed an application under <a href=\"https:\/\/www.indiacode.nic.in\/bitstream\/123456789\/1978\/1\/AAA1996__26.pdf\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Section 8(1) of the A&amp;C Act<\/a>, asserting that a joint reading purchase order\/ contract dated 16th July 2012 and the proposal dated 26th June 2012 (in particular clause 14 of the proposal), signified the existence of an arbitration agreement between the parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-7a4584b9037047138c69c96060ec4117 wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"8j1ak\">By an order dated 1st December 2018, the 6th Joint Civil Judge, Senior Division, Nagpur (\u201ctrial court\u201d) allowed the application and consequently disposed of the suit filed by TCIIL, thereby leaving the parties to go to arbitration. TCIIL\u2019s appeal through Regular Civil Appeal No. 93 of 2019, before the Court of Principal District Judge, Nagpur (\u201cdistrict court\u201d) was dismissed as untenable by judgment and order dated 12th January 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-fab0fbe37a8b0d54e5ecef71ea280755 wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"aq42l\">TCIIL filed a writ petition at the High Court of Bombay challenging the trial court\u2019s order dated 1st December 2018, and also the district court\u2019s judgment and order dated 12th January 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-cd6436374915c155fb15a99707410f0d wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"214jr\"><strong>Issue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-bd48e9fe4c685526f390a515e62c2683 wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"7646a\">Whether mere reference to a unilaterally signed proposal containing an arbitration clause can signify the existence of an arbitration agreement?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-69ecb41dd7d980f9f3bbedb9f4a1981c wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"3pjeu\"><strong>Analysis<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-186a8203a29f7d9e07ef38daa104ead3 wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"es6an\">The court noted that the existence of an arbitration clause or agreement is a <em>sine qua non<\/em> for a court to exercise its powers under Section 8 of the A&amp;C Act. This would require an examination of all documents on record on which the parties have relied to demonstrate the existence of such an agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-fe5399c1fdbdc72557aa0a3f2fd8de26 wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"41q6d\">The court stated that the trial court failed to appreciate the true purport of the documents on record. It noted that a pre-condition for an arbitration agreement to come into existence is a document executed by both parties, which incorporates an arbitration clause\/ agreement to showcase their <em>consensus ad-idem<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-34211320543ccc0f88352e0496670288 wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"90vr0\">Neither the letter of intent dated 12th July 2012 (the only document signed by both parties) that independently recorded terms and conditions for the contract\u2019s execution nor the purchase order dated 16th July 2012 (signed only by the petitioners) contained an arbitration clause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-39e4a08b72bf51398f9bac9948d83e8f wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"ce3l4\">Though the unilaterally signed proposal dated 26th June 2012, contained an arbitration clause, a mere reference to the same in the letter of intent, and the purchase order, without any incorporation of the arbitration clause\/ agreement in the respective documents, would not amount to the existence of an arbitration agreement between the parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-9ed78763077b9c6225c20f9d18d80583 wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"bf0g1\">As a result, the orders dated 1st December 2018 passed by the trial court were quashed and set aside. Consequently, the judgment and order of the district court dated 12th January 2021 were rendered meaningless and set aside. Therefore, the original suit filed by the TCIIL in the trial court was restored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-84181a573639db4c2e8a67b5e50f3673 wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"bn1e8\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-f1456d1d8bb65592305ed7af59715f20 wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"dh7gn\">On a perusal of the documents placed on record, the court noted that a mere reference to a unilaterally signed proposal containing an arbitration clause would not result in the existence of an arbitration agreement between the parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-a3eaecb4f454adca2712c6b14d779662 wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"a659f\">[<em>This case note has been authored by Ayush Prashant Waghmare, an Editor at Mapping ADR.]<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Judgment Name: M\/s TCI Infrastructure Limited and Anr. v. M\/s. Kirby Building Systems (Uttaranchal) Private Limited and Anr Citation: Writ Petition No. 5377 of 2021 Court: The High Court of Bombay Coram: Manish Pitale, J. Date: 19th September 2022 Keywords: Section 8, Arbitration &amp; Conciliation Act, 1996 (the \u201cA&amp;C Act\u201d), unilaterally signed proposal, arbitration agreement Overview A Single-Judge Bench of the Bombay High Court ruled that the mere reference to a proposal containing an arbitration clause unilaterally signed by one party would not amount to an arbitration agreement coming into existence. Facts The dispute relates to a contract whereby M\/s. TCI Infrastructure Limited (\u201cTCIIL\u201d) engaged M\/s. Kirby Building Systems (Uttaranchal) Private Limited (\u201cKBSUPL\u201d) for the construction of a warehouse. On 26th June 2012, KBSUPL, by way of a letter, forwarded a proposal dated 10th May 2012 to TCIIL. The proposal was unliterally signed by KBSUPL and contained an arbitration agreement in Clause 14. TCIIL responded by issuing a letter of intent on 12th July 2012 for the supply of pre-fabricated steel building against the offer made by KBSUPL. The letter of intent made reference to the proposal made by KBSUPL in its letter of 26th June 2012 and also subsequent discussions between the parties. Besides outlining the requirements of the prefabricated steel building in respect of the measurement and material, the letter of intent also contained certain terms and conditions; however, it made no reference to any arbitration clause for the resolution of disputes between the parties. The letter of intent was the only document signed by representatives of both TCIIL and KSBUPL. Following that, on 16th July 2012, TCIIL issued the purchase order to KBSUPL, which also made reference to the letter dated 26th June 2012 containing the proposal, subsequent discussions, and the letter of intent dated 12th July 2012. This purchase order, signed only by TCIIL, contained a reiteration of the specifications of the prefabricated steel building, as provided in the letter of intent, and also specified terms and conditions (including a force majeure clause); however, there was no clause to signify an arbitration agreement between the parties. In 2017, TCIIL filed Special Civil Suit No. 324 of 2017 against KBSUPL for recovery of a specific amount on the ground that KBSUPL had used sub-standard material in the execution of the contract and construction of the warehouse. KBSUPL filed an application under Section 8(1) of the A&amp;C Act, asserting that a joint reading purchase order\/ contract dated 16th July 2012 and the proposal dated 26th June 2012 (in particular clause 14 of the proposal), signified the existence of an arbitration agreement between the parties. By an order dated 1st December 2018, the 6th Joint Civil Judge, Senior Division, Nagpur (\u201ctrial court\u201d) allowed the application and consequently disposed of the suit filed by TCIIL, thereby leaving the parties to go to arbitration. TCIIL\u2019s appeal through Regular Civil Appeal No. 93 of 2019, before the Court of Principal District Judge, Nagpur (\u201cdistrict court\u201d) was dismissed as untenable by judgment and order dated 12th January 2021. TCIIL filed a writ petition at the High Court of Bombay challenging the trial court\u2019s order dated 1st December 2018, and also the district court\u2019s judgment and order dated 12th January 2021. Issue Whether mere reference to a unilaterally signed proposal containing an arbitration clause can signify the existence of an arbitration agreement? Analysis The court noted that the existence of an arbitration clause or agreement is a sine qua non for a court to exercise its powers under Section 8 of the A&amp;C Act. This would require an examination of all documents on record on which the parties have relied to demonstrate the existence of such an agreement. The court stated that the trial court failed to appreciate the true purport of the documents on record. It noted that a pre-condition for an arbitration agreement to come into existence is a document executed by both parties, which incorporates an arbitration clause\/ agreement to showcase their consensus ad-idem. Neither the letter of intent dated 12th July 2012 (the only document signed by both parties) that independently recorded terms and conditions for the contract\u2019s execution nor the purchase order dated 16th July 2012 (signed only by the petitioners) contained an arbitration clause. Though the unilaterally signed proposal dated 26th June 2012, contained an arbitration clause, a mere reference to the same in the letter of intent, and the purchase order, without any incorporation of the arbitration clause\/ agreement in the respective documents, would not amount to the existence of an arbitration agreement between the parties. As a result, the orders dated 1st December 2018 passed by the trial court were quashed and set aside. Consequently, the judgment and order of the district court dated 12th January 2021 were rendered meaningless and set aside. Therefore, the original suit filed by the TCIIL in the trial court was restored. Conclusion On a perusal of the documents placed on record, the court noted that a mere reference to a unilaterally signed proposal containing an arbitration clause would not result in the existence of an arbitration agreement between the parties. [This case note has been authored by Ayush Prashant Waghmare, an Editor at Mapping ADR.]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-all","post-no-thumbnail"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>M\/s TCI Infrastructure Limited and Anr. v. M\/s. Kirby Building Systems (Uttaranchal) Private Limited | Mapping ADR<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/jgu.edu.in\/mappingADR\/m-s-tci-infrastructure-limited-and-anr-v-m-s-kirby-building-systems-uttaranchal-private-limited\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"M\/s TCI Infrastructure Limited and Anr. v. M\/s. Kirby Building Systems (Uttaranchal) Private Limited | Mapping ADR\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Judgment Name: M\/s TCI Infrastructure Limited and Anr. v. M\/s. Kirby Building Systems (Uttaranchal) Private Limited and Anr Citation: Writ Petition No. 5377 of 2021 Court: The High Court of Bombay Coram: Manish Pitale, J. Date: 19th September 2022 Keywords: Section 8, Arbitration &amp; Conciliation Act, 1996 (the \u201cA&amp;C Act\u201d), unilaterally signed proposal, arbitration agreement Overview A Single-Judge Bench of the Bombay High Court ruled that the mere reference to a proposal containing an arbitration clause unilaterally signed by one party would not amount to an arbitration agreement coming into existence. Facts The dispute relates to a contract whereby M\/s. TCI Infrastructure Limited (\u201cTCIIL\u201d) engaged M\/s. Kirby Building Systems (Uttaranchal) Private Limited (\u201cKBSUPL\u201d) for the construction of a warehouse. On 26th June 2012, KBSUPL, by way of a letter, forwarded a proposal dated 10th May 2012 to TCIIL. The proposal was unliterally signed by KBSUPL and contained an arbitration agreement in Clause 14. TCIIL responded by issuing a letter of intent on 12th July 2012 for the supply of pre-fabricated steel building against the offer made by KBSUPL. The letter of intent made reference to the proposal made by KBSUPL in its letter of 26th June 2012 and also subsequent discussions between the parties. Besides outlining the requirements of the prefabricated steel building in respect of the measurement and material, the letter of intent also contained certain terms and conditions; however, it made no reference to any arbitration clause for the resolution of disputes between the parties. The letter of intent was the only document signed by representatives of both TCIIL and KSBUPL. Following that, on 16th July 2012, TCIIL issued the purchase order to KBSUPL, which also made reference to the letter dated 26th June 2012 containing the proposal, subsequent discussions, and the letter of intent dated 12th July 2012. This purchase order, signed only by TCIIL, contained a reiteration of the specifications of the prefabricated steel building, as provided in the letter of intent, and also specified terms and conditions (including a force majeure clause); however, there was no clause to signify an arbitration agreement between the parties. In 2017, TCIIL filed Special Civil Suit No. 324 of 2017 against KBSUPL for recovery of a specific amount on the ground that KBSUPL had used sub-standard material in the execution of the contract and construction of the warehouse. KBSUPL filed an application under Section 8(1) of the A&amp;C Act, asserting that a joint reading purchase order\/ contract dated 16th July 2012 and the proposal dated 26th June 2012 (in particular clause 14 of the proposal), signified the existence of an arbitration agreement between the parties. By an order dated 1st December 2018, the 6th Joint Civil Judge, Senior Division, Nagpur (\u201ctrial court\u201d) allowed the application and consequently disposed of the suit filed by TCIIL, thereby leaving the parties to go to arbitration. TCIIL\u2019s appeal through Regular Civil Appeal No. 93 of 2019, before the Court of Principal District Judge, Nagpur (\u201cdistrict court\u201d) was dismissed as untenable by judgment and order dated 12th January 2021. TCIIL filed a writ petition at the High Court of Bombay challenging the trial court\u2019s order dated 1st December 2018, and also the district court\u2019s judgment and order dated 12th January 2021. Issue Whether mere reference to a unilaterally signed proposal containing an arbitration clause can signify the existence of an arbitration agreement? Analysis The court noted that the existence of an arbitration clause or agreement is a sine qua non for a court to exercise its powers under Section 8 of the A&amp;C Act. This would require an examination of all documents on record on which the parties have relied to demonstrate the existence of such an agreement. The court stated that the trial court failed to appreciate the true purport of the documents on record. It noted that a pre-condition for an arbitration agreement to come into existence is a document executed by both parties, which incorporates an arbitration clause\/ agreement to showcase their consensus ad-idem. Neither the letter of intent dated 12th July 2012 (the only document signed by both parties) that independently recorded terms and conditions for the contract\u2019s execution nor the purchase order dated 16th July 2012 (signed only by the petitioners) contained an arbitration clause. Though the unilaterally signed proposal dated 26th June 2012, contained an arbitration clause, a mere reference to the same in the letter of intent, and the purchase order, without any incorporation of the arbitration clause\/ agreement in the respective documents, would not amount to the existence of an arbitration agreement between the parties. As a result, the orders dated 1st December 2018 passed by the trial court were quashed and set aside. Consequently, the judgment and order of the district court dated 12th January 2021 were rendered meaningless and set aside. Therefore, the original suit filed by the TCIIL in the trial court was restored. Conclusion On a perusal of the documents placed on record, the court noted that a mere reference to a unilaterally signed proposal containing an arbitration clause would not result in the existence of an arbitration agreement between the parties. [This case note has been authored by Ayush Prashant Waghmare, an Editor at Mapping ADR.]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/jgu.edu.in\/mappingADR\/m-s-tci-infrastructure-limited-and-anr-v-m-s-kirby-building-systems-uttaranchal-private-limited\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Mapping ADR\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-04-11T15:41:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"vrpeesari\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"vrpeesari\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/jgu.edu.in\/mappingADR\/m-s-tci-infrastructure-limited-and-anr-v-m-s-kirby-building-systems-uttaranchal-private-limited\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/jgu.edu.in\/mappingADR\/m-s-tci-infrastructure-limited-and-anr-v-m-s-kirby-building-systems-uttaranchal-private-limited\/\",\"name\":\"M\/s TCI Infrastructure Limited and Anr. v. 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Kirby Building Systems (Uttaranchal) Private Limited | Mapping ADR","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/jgu.edu.in\/mappingADR\/m-s-tci-infrastructure-limited-and-anr-v-m-s-kirby-building-systems-uttaranchal-private-limited\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"M\/s TCI Infrastructure Limited and Anr. v. M\/s. Kirby Building Systems (Uttaranchal) Private Limited | Mapping ADR","og_description":"Judgment Name: M\/s TCI Infrastructure Limited and Anr. v. M\/s. Kirby Building Systems (Uttaranchal) Private Limited and Anr Citation: Writ Petition No. 5377 of 2021 Court: The High Court of Bombay Coram: Manish Pitale, J. Date: 19th September 2022 Keywords: Section 8, Arbitration &amp; Conciliation Act, 1996 (the \u201cA&amp;C Act\u201d), unilaterally signed proposal, arbitration agreement Overview A Single-Judge Bench of the Bombay High Court ruled that the mere reference to a proposal containing an arbitration clause unilaterally signed by one party would not amount to an arbitration agreement coming into existence. Facts The dispute relates to a contract whereby M\/s. TCI Infrastructure Limited (\u201cTCIIL\u201d) engaged M\/s. Kirby Building Systems (Uttaranchal) Private Limited (\u201cKBSUPL\u201d) for the construction of a warehouse. On 26th June 2012, KBSUPL, by way of a letter, forwarded a proposal dated 10th May 2012 to TCIIL. The proposal was unliterally signed by KBSUPL and contained an arbitration agreement in Clause 14. TCIIL responded by issuing a letter of intent on 12th July 2012 for the supply of pre-fabricated steel building against the offer made by KBSUPL. The letter of intent made reference to the proposal made by KBSUPL in its letter of 26th June 2012 and also subsequent discussions between the parties. Besides outlining the requirements of the prefabricated steel building in respect of the measurement and material, the letter of intent also contained certain terms and conditions; however, it made no reference to any arbitration clause for the resolution of disputes between the parties. The letter of intent was the only document signed by representatives of both TCIIL and KSBUPL. Following that, on 16th July 2012, TCIIL issued the purchase order to KBSUPL, which also made reference to the letter dated 26th June 2012 containing the proposal, subsequent discussions, and the letter of intent dated 12th July 2012. This purchase order, signed only by TCIIL, contained a reiteration of the specifications of the prefabricated steel building, as provided in the letter of intent, and also specified terms and conditions (including a force majeure clause); however, there was no clause to signify an arbitration agreement between the parties. In 2017, TCIIL filed Special Civil Suit No. 324 of 2017 against KBSUPL for recovery of a specific amount on the ground that KBSUPL had used sub-standard material in the execution of the contract and construction of the warehouse. KBSUPL filed an application under Section 8(1) of the A&amp;C Act, asserting that a joint reading purchase order\/ contract dated 16th July 2012 and the proposal dated 26th June 2012 (in particular clause 14 of the proposal), signified the existence of an arbitration agreement between the parties. By an order dated 1st December 2018, the 6th Joint Civil Judge, Senior Division, Nagpur (\u201ctrial court\u201d) allowed the application and consequently disposed of the suit filed by TCIIL, thereby leaving the parties to go to arbitration. TCIIL\u2019s appeal through Regular Civil Appeal No. 93 of 2019, before the Court of Principal District Judge, Nagpur (\u201cdistrict court\u201d) was dismissed as untenable by judgment and order dated 12th January 2021. TCIIL filed a writ petition at the High Court of Bombay challenging the trial court\u2019s order dated 1st December 2018, and also the district court\u2019s judgment and order dated 12th January 2021. Issue Whether mere reference to a unilaterally signed proposal containing an arbitration clause can signify the existence of an arbitration agreement? Analysis The court noted that the existence of an arbitration clause or agreement is a sine qua non for a court to exercise its powers under Section 8 of the A&amp;C Act. This would require an examination of all documents on record on which the parties have relied to demonstrate the existence of such an agreement. The court stated that the trial court failed to appreciate the true purport of the documents on record. It noted that a pre-condition for an arbitration agreement to come into existence is a document executed by both parties, which incorporates an arbitration clause\/ agreement to showcase their consensus ad-idem. Neither the letter of intent dated 12th July 2012 (the only document signed by both parties) that independently recorded terms and conditions for the contract\u2019s execution nor the purchase order dated 16th July 2012 (signed only by the petitioners) contained an arbitration clause. Though the unilaterally signed proposal dated 26th June 2012, contained an arbitration clause, a mere reference to the same in the letter of intent, and the purchase order, without any incorporation of the arbitration clause\/ agreement in the respective documents, would not amount to the existence of an arbitration agreement between the parties. As a result, the orders dated 1st December 2018 passed by the trial court were quashed and set aside. Consequently, the judgment and order of the district court dated 12th January 2021 were rendered meaningless and set aside. Therefore, the original suit filed by the TCIIL in the trial court was restored. Conclusion On a perusal of the documents placed on record, the court noted that a mere reference to a unilaterally signed proposal containing an arbitration clause would not result in the existence of an arbitration agreement between the parties. 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