State Of Orissa & Ors vs Bhagyadhar Dash

The Supreme Court examined the validity of an arbitration agreement under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, in the context of a dispute between the State of Orissa and contractors. The Court reiterated the essential elements of an arbitration agreement as established in K.K. Modi v. K.N. Modi, emphasizing that the intention of the parties to refer disputes to a private tribunal must be clear and binding. The Court ultimately held that the clause in question constituted a valid arbitration agreement, thereby upholding the High Court's decision to appoint arbitrators.