SPML INFRA LIMITED vs POWER GRID CORPORATION OF INDIA LIMITED

Judgment text excerpt

$~78 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Date of decision: 13.10.2025 + O.M.P. (T) (COMM.) 61/2025 &I.A. 17133/2025 SPML INFRA LIMITED .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Siddhant Jaiswal, Adv. versus POWER GRID CORPORATION OF INDIA LIMITED .....Respondent Through: Sh. S. B. Upadhyay, Sr. Adv with Sh. Pranay, Adv. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASMEET SINGH : JASMEET SINGH, J (ORAL) 1. This is a petition filed under Section 14 (1)(a) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (“1996 Act”) seeking substitution of the Arbitral Tribunal and stay of proceedings before the Arbitral Tribunal. 2. Mr. Jaiswal, learned counsel for the petitioner states that the primary ground for alleging bias against the Presiding Arbitrator is that the Presiding Arbitrator has passed adverse orders against the petitioner in earlier arbitration proceedings in matters related to Araria and Gaya. The said averment is based on the observations of Arbitral Tribunal in its order dated 01.06.2023. Additionally, the petitioner had also opposed the unilateral enhancement of fee by the Arbitral Tribunal. 3. As regards the averment of unilateral enhancement of fee is concerned, Digitally Signed O.M.P. (T) (COMM.) 61/2025 Page 1 of 12 By:MAYANK Signing Date:23.10.2025 17:16:31 the same has already been set aside by this Court vide Order dated 27.11.2024. The only contention remaining to be decided is allegation of bias. 4. The dispute in the present case are in relation to the rural electrification works in Kaimur district of Bihar under the Government of India Scheme of Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojana (“Kaimur project”) 5. Since there were disputes between the parties, the Arbitral Tribunal was constituted on 22.06.2018 and thereafter, proceedings were held. The arbitration proceedings are now at