THE COMMISSIONER, SOLAPUR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION AND 2 ORS vs S. M. C. - G. E. C. P. LTD (JOINT VENTURE)

Judgment text excerpt

Neeta Sawant CARBP-444 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION Commercial Arbitration Petition No. 444 of 2024 WITH Interim Application (L) No.2001 OF 2022 The Commissioner, Solapur Municipal Corporation and Ors. …..PETITIONERS : VERSUS : M/s. S.M.C.-G.E.C.P. Ltd (J.V.) ….RESPONDENT WITH Commercial Arbitration Petition No. 252 of 2024 M/s. S.M.C.-G.E.C.P. Ltd (J.V.) …..PETITIONER : VERSUS : The Commissioner, Solapur Municipal Corporation and Ors ….RESPONDENTS Mr. M.P. Rao, Senior Advocate with Mr. Vishwanath Patil, Ms. Nidhi Chauhan & Mr. Akshay Naidu, for Petitioner in CARBP/444/2024 & for Respondent in CARBP/252/2024 Mr. Shardul Singh with Ms. Prerna Gandhi, Mr. Anisa Shahapurkar & Mr Ninad Thikekar, for Respondent in CARBP/444/2024 & for Petitioner in CARBP/252/2024. __________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 56 06 February 2026 Neeta Sawant CARBP-444 of 2024 Judg. Reserved On: 21 January 2026. Judg. Pronounced On: 06 February 2026. Judgment:- 1) These are cross Petitions filed by the parties challenging the Award of the learned sole Arbitrator dated 18 June 2020. By the impugned Award, the learned sole Arbitrator has awarded a sum of Rs.32,15,94,780/- alongwith interest in favour of the Contractor by setting aside penalties as well as order of termination of contract dated 9 December 2013 and order of blacklisting dated 11 April 2014. 2) The Solapur Municipal Corporation has filed Commercial Arbitration Petition No.444 of 2024 challenging the entire Award. The Contractor, on the other hand, has filed Commercial Arbitration Petition No.252 of 2024 challenging the Award to the limited extent of rejection of certified amounts beyond Rs.19,25,91,000/- towards Claim-I, directing redu