JUDGMENT

1. The present petition under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (the „A&C Act‟) has been filed seeking appointment of a Sole Arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes between the parties.

2. Briefly stated, the facts are that the petitioner is the owner/landlord of the building bearing Municipal No. 68, Janpath, New Delhi 110001, which he had leased out to the respondent company for a period of 15 years w.e.f. 01.08.2008 vide Lease Deed dated 07.08.2008. The respondent is stated to have defaulted in payment of monthly rent which has led to accumulation of huge arrears. The Lease Deed is also stated to have expired by efflux of time on 31.07.2023. The petitioner has served legal notices upon the respondent seeking payment of arrears of rent and calling upon the respondent to ARB.P. 1007/2023 Page 1 of 11 Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed handover the vacant possession of the leased premises, however, the respondent is neither paying the rent/occupation charges nor handing over the possession of the leased premises to the petitioner. Disputes having arisen between the parties, the petitioner vide letter dated 12.08.2023, invoked the arbitration clause