GENERAL MANAGER NORTHERN RAILWAY Vs. SARVESH CHAPRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The respondent was granted by the appellants work of construction on bored piles 500 mm dia by cast in Situ method for widening and raising of Pul Mithai (S). A contract was entered into between the parties on 27-4-1985. The contract is subject to the General conditions of the contract of Railways read with Special Conditions. Disputes arose between the parties and the respondent moved a petition under Section 20 of the Arbitration Act, 1940 praying for the arbitration agreement being filed in the Court and six claims set out in the petition being referred to the Arbitrator for settlement. The learned single Judge of the High Court of Delhi (Original Side) directed two claims to be referred but as to claims numbers 3 to 6 formed an opinion that the claims being 'excepted matters' within the meaning of Clause 63 of General Conditions of Contract were not liable to be referred to arbitration. An intra Court Appeal preferred by respondent has been allowed and the four claims have also been directed to be referred by the Division Bench to arbitrator on forming an opinion that they were not covered by 'excepted matters'. The appellants have filed this petition seeking special leave to appeal against the decision of Division Bench.

(2.) Leave granted.

(3.) Clause 63 of the General Conditions of the Contract provides as under :-