GAURAV ENTERPRISES Vs. INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition, under Sec. 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 ("the 1996 Act") seeks pre-arbitral interim reliefs.

(2.) On 25/3/2020 a notice, inviting tenders, was circulated by Respondent No.1, for providing of Human Resource Outsourcing Services for 10 months and 30 days. The petitioner was the successful bidder and, consequent thereon, the contract was awarded to the petitioner on 23/6/2020, to provide 76 Data Entry Operators and 90 Multi-Tasking Staff for the period from 1/7/2020 to 30/5/2021. The petitioner accepted the award of the contract and, as per the recitals in the petition, provided the requisite services by way of supply of staff.

(3.) The petition raises a grievance regarding the respondent having required the petitioner to furnish performance bank guarantees which, according to the petition, were not contemplated in the contract between the parties. That aspect, however, does not seriously impact these proceedings, or the relief sought herein. Accordingly, I do not propose to travel down that path.