Limited scope of interference and intervention by a Court in an Arbitral Award.

ORDER

Chandra Dhari Singh, J. (Oral)

1. The instant petition under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (hereinafter "Arbitration Act") has been filed on behalf of the petitioner seeking setting aside of the Arbitral Award dated 28th July 2018 (hereinafter "the Award") passed by a three-member Arbitral Tribunal (hereinafter "learned Tribunal").

FACTUAL MATRIX

2. A brief background of the dispute between the parties before this Court is delineated hereunder:

a. The petitioner is a Multi-National Company registered as per the laws of Republic of Korea, represented by its Power of Attorney, Mr. S.J. Kim, working largely in the field of infrastructure development, including construction of roads, highways, dockyards and other such projects across the world. The respondent is the Government of India Undertaking responsible for maintenance, management and development of National Highways or stretch of the National Highways vested in or entrusted to it by the Central Government.

b. The respondent awarded a contract for construction of a four lane Highway at the Jhansi-Lakhanadon section between km 351 to km 405.77, National Highway-26 in the state of Madhya Pradesh to the petitioner vide Letter of Acceptance dated 30th December 2005.

c. During the course of carrying out the work contracted between the parties certain disputes arose, pursuant to which the petitioner invoked the arbitration clause stipulated in their contract. Subsequently, the disputes were referred to the Arbitral Tribunal.

d. Before the learned Tribunal, two major disputes arose amongst the parties, which was narrowed down as under:

A. Refusal and Delay of the Engineer/Respondent for issuance of Defect Liability Certificate (DLC);

B. Refusal of the Engineer/Respondent for determination of new rates for additional/new works instructed the Engineer/Respondent and as per the variation Clause 51.1(c), (d), (e) and (f).

e. Subsequently, upon completion and conclusion of arbitration proceedings, the Arbitral Award dated 28th July 2018 was passed and the following findings were made therein:

Regarding Claim A

i. The Claimant Contractor, M/s. Ssangyong Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd., Gurgaon is partly entitled for Claim. No. 1 i.e. Refusal and Delay of the Engineer/Respondent for issuance of Defect Liability Certificate (DLC).

ii. The Respondent/Employer, the National Highway Authority of India New Delhi shall pay Rs.24,69,892/- to the Claimant Contractor, M/s. Ssangyong Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd. Gurgaon as per the Tribunals findings as detailed out under sub para 9.3.0 to 9.6.7 supra.

iii. The Respondent, the National Highway Authority of India shall pay interest on delayed payments from 01.04.2015 to the date of award amounting to Rs.8,05,926/- to the Claimant as per AT's findings under Sub para 9.8.0 to 9.8.3 supra.

Regarding Claim B

i. The Claimant Contractor, M/s. Ssangyong Engineering & Construction Co.Ltd., Gurgaon is not entitled for Claim No.2 (Or Claim B) i.e. Refusal of the Engineer/Respondent for determination of new rates for additional/new works instructed by the Engineer/Respondent and as per variation clause 51.1 (c), (d), (e) & (f)

ii. The Respondent/Employer, the National Highway Authority of India New Delhi shall pay nil amount to the Claimant Contractor, M/s. Ssangyong Engineering & Construction Co.Ltd. Gurgaon as per the Tribunals findings as detailed out under sub para 9.7.0 to 9.7.7 supra.

iii. In view of Arbitral Tribunals decision under sub para 10.2 (i) & (ii) above, AT awards nil amount as interest.

f. The petitioner is aggrieved by the findings of the learned Tribunal, and is, hence, before this Court challenging the same under Section 34 of the Arbitration Act.

SUBMISSIONS

3. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner has challenged the impugned Award contending that the same is ex-facie bad in law and contrary to the provisions of Section 31(3) of the Arbitration Act and hence, is liable to set aside under Section