RAWAL CONSTRUCTION CO Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an award on a building contract. The Union of India objects to the award.

(2.) The petitioner M/s. Rawla Construction Company, is a firm of contractors (the contractor). By a contract in writing they were awarded by the Union of India work of making provision of accommodation for certain units of the mlitary at Meerut. Disputes arose between the parties. There was an arbitration clause in the contract. The matters in dispute were referred to the sole arbitration of Col. S. S. Virdi, Additional Chief Engineer. He took upon himself the burden of the reference. He heard the parties and examined the evidence produced before him. On 31st July, 1979 he made and published the award.

(3.) There were a number of claims of the contractor against the Union of India. The Union of India in their turn had certain claims of their own against the contractor. The arbitrator made his award on all of them. Mrs. Rao on behalf of the Union of India has confined her objections to the following three claims of the contractor. The first claim and arbitrator's decision thereon is in these words :