ORDER

1. The present Arbitration Application is filed under Section 11(5) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (hereinafter 'the Act, 1996') for appointment of a sole arbitrator to resolve the disputes between the parties.

2. Heard Mr. A. Rajashekar Reddy, learned counsel for petitioner, Mr. Sricharan Telaprolu, learned counsel for the respondent and perused the record.

3. The applicant herein had entered into a ‘Rate Contract (Work Order)’ for transportation of material to PGCILNER project in Arunachal Pradesh with the respondent herein vide W.O.No.

WO/NIPL/PGCIL-ARP/21-22/012, AMDT 3 dated 07.03.2022.

4. It is the case of the applicant herein that disputes arose as the respondent herein had failed to comply with the terms of the work orders; that as the applicant had suffered major setbacks to its tender contract with the principal contractor PGCIL, due to delays in delivery of consignments by the Respondent herein, it had issued a legal demand notice for damages dated 15.03.2023; and that thereafter though an exchange of correspondences prevailed between the parties, the respondent herein had raised a counterclaim through its legal