EITZEN BULK A/S vs ASHAPURA MINECHEM LIMITED

The Supreme Court upheld the validity of the Arbitration Clause in the Contract of Affreightment between Eitzen Bulk A/S and Ashapura Minechem Ltd., emphasizing that disputes must be resolved through arbitration as per Clause No. 28 of the contract. The Court affirmed the Sole Arbitrator's award, which held Ashapura liable for a total of 36,306,104 USD plus interest, rejecting Ashapura's claims of the contract being illegal or void. The Court reiterated the enforceability of arbitration agreements under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, particularly Section 7, and confirmed that the jurisdiction of Indian courts does not extend to interfering with arbitration awards made under foreign law.