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M/S Redcliffe Lifetech Pvt. Ltd. vs. Lifespan Wellness Private Limited

Arbitration Petition · 2026:DHC:8924Decided 7 Oct 2026New Delhi Bench
ARB.P. 521/2026CNR: DLHC010117822026
Justice Om Prakash Shukla

Background

A dispute arose between Redcliffe Lifetech and Lifespan Wellness under a 2022 Service Agreement that contained an arbitration clause requiring disputes to be referred to a sole arbitrator if not resolved amicably within 30 days. Redcliffe approached the High Court to have an arbitrator appointed after the respondent did not participate, and no one appeared on the respondent's behalf at the hearing either.

Decision Breakdown

The Court reiterated that at the stage of appointing an arbitrator under Section 11, it need only check whether an arbitration agreement exists on its face, not decide the merits of the dispute. Finding the arbitration clause undisputed, the Court appointed a named advocate as sole arbitrator under the aegis of the Delhi International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), leaving all other objections (including arbitrability and jurisdiction) to be decided by the arbitrator.

Lesson Learnt

If a commercial contract contains an arbitration clause and one side refuses to engage, the other party can approach the High Court for a quick, largely administrative appointment of an arbitrator: the court does not get drawn into the underlying dispute at this stage.

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