Authority: High Court of Judicature at Bombay

Order Date: October 22, 2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: Applicant – Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL); Respondents – M/s Sukhram Fuels and Others.
  • Dispute arises from an Agreement dated 30 March 2019, containing an arbitration clause (Clause 19) which the parties have not contested.
  • BPCL invoked the arbitration clause by issuing a notice on 27 February 2025.
  • An application under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 was filed (Comm. Arbitration Application No. 92 of 2026, Petition No. 214 of 2025).
  • The objection concerning individual directors being made parties to the arbitration may be raised before the arbitrator, who will decide independently of the court’s appointment order.
  • The Court confirmed the existence of a valid, subsisting arbitration agreement and its proper invocation.

Final Outcome

  • Ms Kajol A. Punjabi, Advocate of this court, is appointed as the Sole Arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes arising out of the 2019 Agreement.
  • Office address: C/o Sr. Adv. Gaurav Joshi, 302B, Fort Chambers, Next to Hamam Street Post Office, Fort, Mumbai – 400001; Email: kajolpunjabi97@gmail.com.
  • The Applicant must forward a copy of this Order to the Sole Arbitrator within one week and provide contact particulars of all parties.
  • The Sole Arbitrator shall issue the statutory Statement of Disclosure under Section 11(8) read with Section 12(1) to the Applicant’s advocates for filing in the Court registry; a copy will also be furnished to the Respondents’ advocates.
  • Parties are to appear before the Sole Arbitrator on dates and locations specified by the arbitrator for procedural directions, including filing schedules, witness examinations, and hearing dates.
  • Parties must provide valid email addresses and telephone numbers of their advocates; communications to these emails will constitute valid service.
  • All arbitral costs and fees are to be borne equally by the parties initially, subject to adjustment by any final award.
  • The petition under Section 9 is treated as an application under Section 17 of the Act before the Arbitral Tribunal.
  • The Sole Arbitrator has full authority to adjudicate claims, counter‑claims, merits, and any related questions of law.
  • All actions required by this order shall be taken upon receipt of a downloaded copy from the Court’s website.
  • The arbitration application is disposed of as ordered.

Topics: Arbitration Appointment, Corporate Dispute