JUDGMENT

Sanjeev Narula, J. IRCTC by way of the present petition under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 [hereinafter `the Act'], seeks the setting aside of the interim arbitral award dated 15th December, 2020 [hereinafter `Impugned Award'], whereby, the learned Sole Arbitrator has allowed certain claims of the Respondent-Deepak & Co, the Claimant in the arbitration proceedings [hereinafter referred to as `DC' or the `service provider'].

BRIEF FACTS:

2. The events giving rise to the present petition are summarized as follows:

The Tender:

2.1. DC is a private railway catering service provider, empaneled with IRCTC and entitled to be considered for allotment of temporary licenses on Category `A' trains. Catering services in railways, which were being provided in a composite mode, were unbundled with the introduction of Railway Budget for 2016-17 by creating a distinction primarily between food preparation and distribution. In furtherance of the said restructuring plan, on 07th September, 2016, IRCTC published a limited tender inviting bids from empaneled parties for providing on-board catering services in respect of Train No. 12951-52/12953-54 (Rajdhani/Au