DEVI PRASAD MISHRA Vs. NAYARA ENERGY LIMITED

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Shri Pratham Mehrotra and Shri Manish Mehrotra, learned counsel for the petitioner and Shri Kumar Ayush, learned Counsel appearing for the respondent.

(2.) The instant petition has been preferred under Sec. 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (hereinafter referred to as Act, 1996) seeking appointment of a sole Arbitrator to resolve the disputes having arisen between the parties, emerging from a franchisee agreement dtd. 18/1/2018.

(3.) Submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that a franchisee agreement was executed initially between Essar Oil Ltd. and the petitioner. In furtherance of the said agreement, the petitioner invested a sum of 1.5 crores and odd to establish a petrol pump. It is the case of the petitioner that since Essar Oil Ltd. is a bulk supplier to the Indian State Controlled Petroleum Companies, hence it colluded with the local companies, as a consequence, the retail price of petrol and petroleum products were dearer at the Essar Petrol Pump in comparison to the pumps operated by the Government Control Petroleum Company.