The arbitration law in India permits the passing of an interim award by the Arbitral Tribunal vide section 31(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (Hereinafter called the Act) on any matter with respect to which it may make a final award.
An interim award is different from an interim order in as much as an interim award has been held to be a final award, but made at an interim stage1. In fact the definition clause of the Act clearly provides that the term "arbitral award" includes an interim award2. In view of the same, an interim award, unlike an interim order under Section 17 of the Act, can be challenged under Section 34 of the Act and not under Section 37 of the Act.
The principles for passing an interim award on admissions are akin to the principles followed by courts in passing a judgment on admissions under Order XII Rule 6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. In the judgment of Uttam Singh Duggal Co. Ltd. vs. United Bank of India Ltd & Ors3 the Hon'ble Supreme court observed that the principles of Order XII Rule 6 are wide in their implication and a decree on admissions is to be passed when it is impossible for the party making the admission to succeed in the face of such admissions made by him. As to the nature of admissions, the Hon'ble Apex Court4 has laid down, that the admissions should be categorical. It should be a conscious and deliberate act of the party making it, showing an intention to be bound by it. The judgment should be made keeping in mind that a judgment on admission is a judgment without trial which permanently denies any remedy to the Defendant. Therefore the Court should exercise its discretion only when the admission is clear, unequivocal unambiguous and unconditional.
In the case of Nagindas Ramdas v. Dalpatram Iccharam5 the Hon'ble Apex Court has observed that admissions if true and clear, are by far the best proof of the facts admitted. Admissions in pleadings or judicial admissions, admissible under Section 58 of the Evidence Act, made by the parties or their agents at or before the hearing of the case, stand on a higher footing than evidentiary admissions. The former class of admissions are fully binding on the party that makes them and constitute a waiver of proof. They by themselves can be made the foundation of the rights of the parties.
Very recently, the Division Bench of Delhi High Court has revisited the issue of power of arbitral tribunal to pass an interim award qua an admitted liability/amount which is withheld by a party simply for the reason that its counter claims are pending adjudication6. The case revolved around the challenge to an interim award passed by the tribunal on the basis of an admission of payment by the party. The only defense taken was that there was an adjustment of the amount and counterclaims were pending.
The issue of pendency of counter claims to oppose passing of interim award, was discussed succinctly in another division bench judgment of Delhi High Court wherein the court was pleased to answer the issue in negative7. In the Numero Uno case, the court has held that pendency of counter claim does not denude the arbitrator of the power to pass an interim award in the original suit/claim if such an interim award is otherwise justified. No interference with an interim award would, however, be permissible only because the defendant has made a counter claim or because some areas of dispute independent of the area covered by the interim award remains to be resolved. Such a position has emerged in view that a counterclaim is not only treated as a separate proceeding, but is infact a claim which is disputed and is still to be adjudicated.
The Numero Uno case (Supra) has further laid down that passing of an interim award ensures that the party, to who an amount is admittedly payable, does not have to await determination of other disputes to be finally resolved, which may take several years. It further states that the making of the interim award, would not prevent the Tribunal from making adjustments at the stage of making the final award.
In the Nimbus Case (Supra), the admission of the payment was clear and unequivocal, and there was no defense except adjustment. In view of the same, the admissions were accepted to be judicial admissions being part of the pleadings, and hence the best proof for the purpose of passing the interim award. As far as the pendency of counterclaims is concerned, the law laid down in the Numero Uno case (Supra) was followed, and the plea of the opposite party as regards the adjustment of counterclaims was also rejected.
The Division Bench of the Madras High Court in the judgment of Gammon India Ltd. v. Sankaranarayan Construction (Bangalore) Pvt. Ltd.8, has also taken a concurrent view on the power of the tribunal to pass interim award qua admitted liability vis-à-vis Order XII Rule 6 of C.P.C. The Gammon India judgment further emphasized that Section 19 (1) of the Act which provides that the arbitral tribunal shall not be bound by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 or the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, is not an impediment in passing an interim award as the arbitral tribunal can always adopt the principles of the Code of Civil Procedure. Hence for reason of Section 19 alone, the power of the tribunal to follow the principles of Order XII Rule 6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 and Section 58 of the Indian Evidence Act cannot be made inapplicable.
To sum up it is very much within the powers of an Arbitral Tribunal to pass an interim award on the basis of clear and unambiguous admissions by a party under Section 31(6) of the Act by applying and invoking the principles of Order XII Rule 6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1906, notwithstanding pendency of counterclaims lodged by the party.
Footnotes
1. McDermott International Inc. v. Burn Standard Co. Ltd. (2006)11SCC181
2. Section 2(c) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
3. (2000) 7 SCC 120
4. Himani Alloys Ltd. v. Tata Steel Ltd. 2011(7)Scale566
5. 1974SCR(2)544
6. Nimbus Communications Ltd. v. Prasar Bharati, FAO(OS) 369/2015, Delhi High Court, Decided on 05, April, 2016 (Hereinafter called the Nimbus Case).
7. Numero Uno International Ltd. v. Prasar Bharti 2008(1)ArbLR446(Delhi) (Hereinafter called the Numero Uno Case)
8. OMP No. 628/2008 (Madras High Court)
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