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NON-REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NO.14620 OF 2015 (Arising out of SLP ( C) NO. 28720 of 2014)

M/S MASTER TOURS AND TRAVELS                   APPELLANT                                 VERSUS

THE CHAIRMAN, SHRI AMARNATH JI  SHRINE BOARD AND ORS.   RESPONDENTS  

J U D G M E N T   KURIAN, J.

Leave granted. The short question is whether in terms of Clause 13 of  

the  Work  Order,  the  dispute  raised  by  the  appellant  should  be  referred to the Arbitration.  The Clause 13 of the Work Order reads  as follows:

“In case of any dispute the matter shall be referred to  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  –  Shri  Amarnathji  Shrine  Board, whose decision in the matter shall be final.”

Though learned Counsel for the appellant tried to convince  that the aforesaid Clause has to be read as an Arbitration Clause  for settling the disputes between the parties, placing reliance on  the decision of this Court in State of Punjab and Others Vs. Dina  Nath, (2007) 5 SCC 28, we are unable to appreciate the contention  in view of the subsequent decision of a three Judge Bench of this  Court in P. Dasaratharama Reddy Complex Vs. Government of Karnataka  and Another, (2014) 2 SCC 201.  

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Be  that  as  it  may,  in  view  of  the  long  pendency  of  the  dispute,  the  learned  Counsel  for  the  appellant  submits  that  appellant may be permitted to invoke the provision for adjudication  before  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  with  the  appellant's  participation and the same may be disposed of in a time bound  manner.

Having  heard  the  learned  Senior  Counsel  appearing  for  the  respondents, we see no reason to deny the request, accordingly, the  appeal is disposed of as follows.   

The appellant  is free to make a comprehensive representation  raising  all  the  disputes  before  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  Respondent No.1, within a period of four weeks from today.  The  Chief Executive Officer shall look into the same and after hearing  the appellant take a final decision in the matter within another  six weeks.

No costs. ...................J.

      [KURIAN JOSEPH]

     ....................J    [ARUN MISHRA]  

NEW DELHI; DECEMBER 15, 2015