Delhi High Court
ARB.P./1291/2026 of SANJAY BHALLA & ORS. Vs PRAGYAN PRADIP SHARMA on 15 October 2026
ARB.P. 1291/2026
$~10
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
CNR No. DLHC010345222026
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ARB.P. 1291/2026
SANJAY BHALLA & ORS.
.....Petitioners
Through:
Mr. Girish Kumar Sharma,
Advocate.
versus
PRAGYAN PRADIP SHARMA
.....Respondents
Through:
Mr.
Hardik
Vashisht,
Mr.
Harshit
Vashisht
and
Mr.
Moksh Arora, Advocates.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE OM PRAKASH SHUKLA
JUDGMENT(ORAL)
%
15.10.2026
I.A. 28809/2026 (Consolidation of petitions)
1. Learned Counsel for the Respondents submit that Section 11 petition is also pending before a Coordinate Bench of this Court. Accordingly, he wishes to withdraw the present petition.
2. Accordingly, the application is dismissed as withdrawn.
ARB.P. 1291/2026
3. Both the parties are ad idem that the matter may be referred to arbitration.
4. It is well settled that, while exercising jurisdiction under Section 11 of the Act, the scope of enquiry is confined to examining the prima
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facie existence of an arbitration agreement1.
5. In the present case, there is no dispute with regard to the existence of a valid arbitration clause between the parties.
6. Further, the parties are ad idem with respect to the reference of the disputes to arbitration. In the aforesaid circumstances, this Court finds no impediment in appointing a Sole Arbitrator.
7. Accordingly, Mr. Virender Kumar Bansal, Principal District Judge (Retd.) (Mob. No.9910384709) is appointed as a learned Sole Arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes arisen between the parties. The learned Sole Arbitrator shall enter upon the reference within two weeks from today.
8. The learned Sole Arbitrator will proceed to the arbitration proceedings subject to furnishing requisite disclosures as required under Section 12(2) of the Act within two weeks of entering reference.
9. The arbitration shall be carried under the rules and aegis of Delhi International Arbitration Centre (“DIAC”). The learned Arbitrator shall be entitled to fees as per the Schedule of Fees maintained by the DIAC.
10. It shall be open to the parties to raise all pleas, including objection as to arbitrability and jurisdiction, before the learned Sole 1 SBI General Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Krish Spinning 2024 SCC OnLine SC 1754
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Arbitrator who shall decide the same in accordance with law.
11. It is clarified that the observations made herein are only for the purpose of deciding the present petition under Section 11(6) of the Act. The learned Sole Arbitrator shall adjudicate the disputes independently and on their own merits, uninfluenced by any observations contained in the present order.
12. The Registry is directed to send a receipt of this order to Mr. Virender Kumar Bansal, learned Arbitrator through all permissible modes including email.
13. Accordingly, the present petition is disposed of in the above terms.
OM PRAKASH SHUKLA, J OCTOBER 15, 2026/pa
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