Kuldeep Singh vs. Shubham Suyal
Background
The petitioner sought appointment of an arbitrator to resolve a payment dispute (over Rs. 51 lakh in alleged defaults) arising from a Lease Deed dated 12.06.2024 between the parties. Both sides agreed that the dispute should go to arbitration.
Decision Breakdown
Since both parties agreed a valid arbitration clause existed and were willing to arbitrate, the Court appointed a sole arbitrator (the same advocate appointed in several other matters that day) to resolve the dispute under Delhi International Arbitration Centre rules, leaving all substantive and jurisdictional questions to be decided by the arbitrator.
Lesson Learnt
When both sides to a lease or commercial dispute agree that arbitration is the right forum, courts will move quickly to appoint an arbitrator rather than delve into the underlying payment dispute themselves.