High Court Of Delhi
NIRANJAN BUILDERS - Appellant
Versus
UNION OF INDIA - Respondent
Suit 964A of 1992
Decided On : 03/16/1999
Section 30 & 33 — Objection to award — Delay in completion of work — Denial of damages by Arbitrator as the delay was caused by claimant himself — No error apparent on record.
( 1 ) A contract was entered into between the petitioner and the respondents whereunder work of special repairs to staff quarters attached to ESI Hospital, Basai Darapur, New Delhi, was to be executed by the petitioner. Since disputes arose between the parties while executing the aforesaid contract, the disputes were referred to the sole arbitrator Shri V. Nainani for adjudication and decision. The arbitrator appointed entered upon the reference, received evidence adduced by the parties and upon hearing the parties made his award on 9/1/1992.
( 2 ) THE aforesaid award was filed in this court as against which objections have been filed by the petitioner. I have heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner as also the counsel appearing for the respondent and on the basis thereof proceed to decide this matter claimwise. Claim No. 1:
( 3 ) THIS claim relates to a claim of Rs. 90,000. 00 on account of under-payment in respect of agreement item No. 1. According to the petitioner the work executed by the petitioner required providing guniting of number of RCC rectangular columns also, the measurements for which were recorded by the respondent by taking surface measurements of the columns and deleting the overlapping thickness of the guniting. Petitioner further states that under the Hand Book of Method of measurement of building works and IS Guide, for finished surface measurements such deletion of overlapping thickness was not called for and thus considering the said fact the arbitrator should have allowed the claim of the petitioner.
( 4 ) I have perused the award passed by the arbitrator in respect of the same. I find on record that the arbitrator has taken note of the provisions of IS SP 27:1984 in respect of the aforesaid claim and on consideration and construction thereof came to the conclusion that in case of rectangular columns application of IS SP 27: 1984 would mean exclusion of overlapping thickness from surface area measurements. Counsel for the petitioner submitted that the aforesaid construction is wrong and the arbitrator has misapplied the provisions. However, the counsel failed to draw my specific attention as to why the said construction and interpretation could be said to be not tenable. The arbitrator has considered the applicability of the aforesaid IS SP 27:1984 to the facts of the case and on construction thereof has given his decision which in my considered opinion cannot be interfered with unless the petitioner could show that there is an error of law apparent on the face of the award. No such error of law is apparent on the face of the award and therefore the contention of the counsel for the petitioner stands rejected and the award stands upheld. Claim No. 2:
( 5 ) IN respect of this claim the petitioner claims Rs. 7,000. 00 on account of under-payment in respect of agreement item No. 2. The arbitrator rejected the said claim on the ground that the petitioner could not furnish any evidence indicating any short record of measurements of item of rendering by the respondent. Since on appreciation of the evidence on record the arbitrator has come to a finding that there is no evidence on record justifying the aforesaid claim the same is inadmissible. The said award of the arbitrator cannot be interfered with and the same stands upheld. Claim No. 3:
( 6 ) CLAIM of the petitioner as against this claim is for payment of an amount of Rs. 50,000. 00 on account of payment under clause 10 (CC) of the contract agreement. The arbitrator rejected the said claim holding the same to be untenable as no claim under clause 10 (CC) was provided for under the contract. It is an admitted position that contract agreement provides for payment under clause 10 (C) for variations in agreement rates. No claim under clause 10 (CC) was envisaged in the present contract. The objection filed as against this claim therefore, has no merit and the same stands rejected. Claim No. 5:
( 7 ) NEXT objection filed by the pet
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