The petitioner, a limited liability partnership firm, has filed this application under Section 11 of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996, for the second time, for the appointment of a sole Arbitrator for the resolution of the disputes with the respondents in connection with Annexure-1 agreement for the joint development of the property of the respondents as a residential apartment complex.

2. Earlier, as per order dated 31.07.2023, this Court had appointed a Retired District Judge and Practicing Lawyer at Kozhikode as Arbitrator to resolve the disputes and differences between the parties to this case, arising from Annexure-1 agreement. It is stated that, at a stage when the arbitration proceedings reached considerable progress, the respondents filed petition attributing bias upon the Arbitrator, which eventually compelled the learned Arbitrator to withdraw from the arbitration. Accordingly, as per order dated 09.02.2024, the learned Arbitrator appointed by this Court as per order dated 31.07.2023 in A.R.No.67 of 2023, recused from his assignment. It is under the above circumstances, the petitioner has approached this Court once again with the arbitration request.

3. Heard