IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD THE HON’BLE JUSTICE MOUSHUMI BHATTACHARYA ARBITRATION APPLICATION No.98 of 2025 DATE: 18.03.2026 Between:

Mr.Shahed Siddiqui …..Applicant AND Mr.Amaan Noorudin Dharani and 7 others …..Respondents Mr. Vivek Jain, learned counsel appearing for the applicant.

Mr. B. Vamshidhar Reddy, learned counsel representing Mr.K.S. Suneel, learned counsel appearing for the respondent No.1.

Mr. A.Naveen Rudra, learned counsel representing Mr. Dharmapuri Kiran, learned counsel appearing for the respondent No.2.

ORDER:

1. The present Arbitration Application has been filed under section 11(5) and (6) of The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, seeking appointment of a Sole Arbitrator for adjudication of the disputes between the parties.

2. The dispute arises out of a Development Agreement-cum- General Power of Attorney dated 11.11.2022 executed by the respondent No.2 (the land owner) in favour of the respondent No.1 (1^st party) and the applicant herein (2^nd party) for development of the land.

3. Learned counsel appearing for the applicant submits that the respondent Nos.3 to 8 have been made parties to the present Application since they are transferees of land from the respondent No.1.

4. In any event, the contention raised by learned counsel appearing for the respondent No.1 regarding the joinder of non- signatory parties to an Arbitration Agreement should primarily be decided by the Arbitral Tribunal, as laid down by the Supreme Court in Cox and Kings Limited Vs. SAP India Private Limited, (2024) 4 SCC 1

5. The Court is informed that the applicant has filed an application under 9 of the 1996 Act before the Commercial Court, Ranga Reddy District at L.B. Nagar, and obtained an ad-interim order on 06.03.2025. The applicant continues to enjoy the said

interim order. Therefore, even under section 9(2) of the 1996 Act, there is a statutory mandate to commence arbitral proceedings within the prescribed period.

6. The Development Agreement-cum-General Power of Attorney dated 11.11.2022 contains an arbitration clause under Clause No.24. None of the parties have denied the existence or validity of the arbitration clause.

7. In the circumstances, Sri Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili, a former Judge of this Court (resident of Door No.10-3-555, Vijayanagar Colony, Near: Andhra Bank Chowrasta, Hyderabad- 500057; Mobile No.9440896303), is appointed as sole Arbitrator to adjudicate the dispute between the parties. The parties shall appear before the sole Arbitrator on 04.04.2026 at 11:00 A.M., along with a copy of this order. The sole Arbitrator shall thereafter proceed with the arbitral proceedings in accordance with law.

8. The parties are at liberty to raise all the contentious issues before the learned Arbitrator. The fee of the Arbitrator as well as the other terms and conditions shall be settled by the parties in consultation with the Arbitrator so appointed.

9. Arbitration Application No.98 of 2025 is accordingly allowed.

All connected applications shall stand closed.

_____________________________________ MOUSHUMI BHATTACHARYA, J Date: 18.03.2026 va