MAHANAGAR TELEPHONE NIGAM LTD Vs. MAFATLAL INDUSTRIES LTD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These three petitions under Sec. 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, ['the Act'], are directed against an Arbitral Award dtd. 21/12/2009, by which a Sole Arbitrator has adjudicated disputes between the parties under a purchase order issued by Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited ['MTNL'] in favor of Mafatlal Industries Ltd. ['Mafatlal'] on 19/4/2001.

(2.) The purchase order was for the supply of 1,91,507.40 meters of winter suiting [woollen cloth for winter uniform] at the rate of Rs.369.50 per meter. The total value of the order was thus Rs.7,07,61,984.30. The purchase order provided that bills would be raised by one M/s Sandhya Textiles ['Sandhya'], a proprietorship concern of Mr. Gautam Guha.

(3.) In the circumstances more fully described below, all three parties have challenged the Award. I. Facts