SCHLUMBERGER ASIA SERVICES LTD. vs OIL & NATURAL GAS CORP.LTD.

The Supreme Court, in this case under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, addressed the appointment of arbitrators in a contractual dispute between Schlumberger Asia Services Ltd. and Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. The Court held that the arbitration clause in the contract mandates the appointment of a three-member Arbitral Tribunal, and if a party fails to appoint an arbitrator within the stipulated time, the Chief Justice of India is empowered to make such appointments. The petition was deemed maintainable despite the respondent's objections regarding the timeliness of the claims, affirming the arbitration process as a valid mechanism for dispute resolution.