KUNDAN LAL Vs. MEHTAB RAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS is a revision petition by Kundan Lal et cetera, petitioners, against the order of the Subordinate Judge, Second Class, Kaithal, dated April 9, 1979, setting aside the award.

(2.) BRIEFLY, the facts are that the petitioners and the respondents started a business of manufacture and sale of bricks in partnership under the name and style of M/s. Cheeka Brick Kiln Indusry at Cheeka. They executed a deed of partnership on September 20, 1968. One of the terms in the deed was that in case of dispute relating to partnership business, it would be referred to arbitrator in accordance with the provisions of the Indian Arbitration Act (hereinafter referred to as the Act). Some disputes arose between the patties and the petitioners filed an application under Section 20 of the Act in the Court of the Subordinate Judge, praying that the matter be referred to the Arbitrator. He referred it to the Arbitration of Bua Ditta Brick-kiln-owner.

(3.) I have given a careful consideration to the argument of the learned counsel and final a force in it. The Act provides three types of arbitrations, first, arbitration without intervention of a Court, secondly, arbitration with intervention of a Court where there is no suit pending and thirdly, arbitration in suits. The first type of arbitration is provided in Chap. II (Sections 3 to 19), the second type in Chapter III (Section 20) and the third type in Chapter IV (Sections 21to 25). It is not disputed in the present case that the matter was referred to arbitration under Section 20 which is a part of Chapter III. The section does not provide that the Court while referring a case to the Arbitrator should specify the matter in difference between the parties. While making a reference to the Arbitrator in suits Section 23 is applicable. It provides that the Court shall refer to the Arbitrator the matter in difference which he is required to determine. No such provision has been made in Section 20 of the Act. It is well settled that the provisions of Section 23 cannot be imported in arbitration proceedings referred to under Section 20. In the said view I am fortified by the observations of Dua, J., (as he then was) in State of Himachal Pradesh v. Lal Roshan Lal Kuthiala, (1963) 65 Pun LR 318. The learned Judge held that Section 23 0ocurring as it does in Chap. IV of Arbitration Act, applies only to arbitration in suits and not to arbitration with the intervention of a Court where no suit is pending. Therefore in my view the Court could not set aside the award on the ground that no points were framed for determination of the Arbitrator by the Court when the matter was referred to him by it. Section 30 contains the ground for setting aside the award. The Court has, however: not decided the other objections filed by the respondents. Consequently, I accept the revision petition, set aside the impugned order and remand the case to the Subordinate Judge for deciding the other objections. The costs in the revision petition shall be the costs in the cause. The parties are directed to appear in the Subordinate Court on February 15, 1980.