M/S.RASHTRIYA CHEMICALS & FERTS. LTD. Vs. M/S.CHOWGULE BROTHERS

                                                 REPORTABLE

             IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

              CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICITION

               CIVIL APPEAL NO.5286 OF 2006

M/s. Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd.       ...Appellant

                                Versus

M/s Chowgule Brothers & Ors.                      ...Respondents

 

                          JUDGMENT

 

T.S. THAKUR J.

1.   This appeal by special leave is directed against an order

dated 5th April 2006 passed by the High Court of Bombay

whereby Appeal No.884 of 1997 has been allowed, the order

passed by a learned Single Judge of that Court set aside and

the majority award passed by the arbitrators restored.

2.   The appellant, a Government of India undertaking

invited   tenders   for   allotment   of   clearing,   forwarding,
                                2

handling and stevedoring jobs at Mormugao Port initially for

a period of one year commencing from 15th January 1983

upto 14th January 1984 but extendable at the option of the

appellant for a further period of one year on the same terms

and conditions except statutory increases in the wages of

Dock labourers referred to in Clause 2.03 of tender notice.

In response, the respondent submitted a tender which was

accepted culminating in the issue of a work order dated 10th

January 1983 in its favour.     It is common ground that the

appellant by its communication dated 13th October 1983

exercised the option available to it in terms of Clause 2.03 of

the NIT and extended the contract for a further period of

one year ending 14th January 1985.

3.   The extension aforementioned was accepted by the

respondent   in   terms   of   its   communication   dated   7th

December 1983 in which it was inter-alia pointed out that

statutory revisions in the wages of Mormugao Dock Labour

Board (for short M.D.L.B.) that had come about during the

period of one year need be considered while extending the
                               3

contractual period. In response, the company by its letter

dated 27th January 1984 pointed out that Clause 2.03 of

Schedule II of N.I.T. provided for increases on account of

statutory revisions made upto 15th January 1984 alone to be

considered   for   purposes   of   granting   rate     escalation.

Increases in wages that may have been under negotiations

or those granted on a later date with retrospective effect

could not consequently be considered, said the appellant.

The respondent-Company was on that basis called upon to

furnish documentary evidence regarding increase if any in

wages allowed by the M.D.L.B. upto 15th January 1984

without waiting for issuance of any fresh circulars.

4.   It is not the case of the respondents that any revision

in   wages   effective   as   on   15th   January,   1984     was

demonstrated before the appellant at any time before the

commencement of the extended contractual period.            What

was alleged by the respondent was that pursuant to a

settlement between the M.D.L.B. and the Dock workers the

respondent had incurred an additional amount of Rs.24.74
                              4

lakhs towards the increase in the wages payable to such

workers. A claim for reimbursement of the said amount was

accordingly made by the respondent-company in terms of a

legal notice served upon the appellant on its behalf, which

claim was refuted by the appellant on the strength of Clause

2.03 of Schedule II to the notice inviting tenders forming

part of the contract between the parties. The appellant

asserted that the rates at which the contract was initially

awarded had to remain firm throughout the period of one

year from the date of award and were not subject to any

escalation whatsoever. Rates for the extended period were

also similarly to remain firm throughout the extended period

subject to any statutory revision upto 15th January, 1984

being taken into consideration. Any subsequent increase in

the   wages   payable   to   the    Dock   labourers   granted

retrospectively by the M.D.L.B. was according to the

appellant wholly inconsequential.

5.    Denial of the claim made by the respondent thus gave

rise to a dispute which was in terms of the contract referred
                              5

to a panel of three Arbitrators for adjudication. Before the

Arbitrators, the appellant disputed the claim on merits as

also on the ground that the same was barred by limitation.

The Arbitrators examined rival contentions urged before

them but failed to arrive at a unanimous decision on the true

and correct interpretation of Clause 2.03.     Two awards,

therefore, came to be made, one by Shri R.P. Bhatt who

dismissed the claim and the other by M/s R.C. Cooper and

N.A. Modi who held the respondents entitled to recover from

the appellant a lump sum amount of Rs.61,73,067.90. It is

noteworthy that while the award made by Shri R.P. Bhatt

was a reasoned Award that made by the other two

Arbitrators was not.

6.   Aggrieved by the majority Award, the appellant filed

Arbitration Petition No. 19 of 1993 before the High Court of

Bombay for setting aside the same. A Single Judge of the

High Court of Bombay (S.N. Variava, J. as His Lordship then

was) allowed that prayer and set aside the award holding

that the same was contrary to clause 2.03 of the NIT
                                   6

forming part of the contract executed between the parties.

Even the plea of limitation succeeded before the learned

Single Judge who held that the claim made by the

respondents      was     barred    by     time.      Undeterred     the

respondents assailed the said order before a Division Bench

of the High Court in Appeal No.884 of 1997 which allowed

the appeal, set aside the order passed by the Single Judge

and   restored   the    majority       Award   made     by   the    two

Arbitrators.   The     High   Court     took   the    view   that   the

interpretation placed upon Clause 2.03 of the contract

between the parties by the majority of the arbitrators was a

logical interpretation which could provide a sound basis for

the Award made by them.

7.    Appearing for the appellant, Shri Shyam Divan did not

pursue the challenge to the validity of the Award on the

ground that the claim made by the respondent was barred

by limitation. The solitary point that was urged by the

learned counsel was that the High Court had committed an

error while interpreting Clause 2.03 of the contract. Mr.
                                  7

Divan contended that a plain reading of Clause 2.03 made it

amply clear that the rates stipulated under the contract were

to remain firm for the first year notwithstanding any revision

in the wages payable to the dock workers of M.D.L.B. For

the second year also the rates were to remain firm, subject

only to the condition that statutory revisions, if any, of the

wages     would   be   taken    into   consideration.   What     was

according to Mr. Divan evident from a plain reading of

Clause 2.03 was that only such statutory revisions as were

ordered upto the date of commencement of the contractual

period were relevant for the purpose of such consideration.

Any revision made subsequent to the commencement of the

contractual period even if retrospective in its application

would have had no relevance for the extended period.

Inasmuch as the Division Bench had taken a contrary view

and set aside the order of the learned Single Judge, it had

not only committed a mistake that was evident but also

ignored    the    principles   governing    the   construction    of

documents.
                                  8

8.    Appearing for the respondents Mr. Ganesh, learned

senior counsel on the other hand contended that the power

of this Court to interfere in an Arbitral Award under Sections

30 and 33 of the Arbitration Act, 1940 was very limited. He

contended that just because an interpretation different from

the one given by the Arbitrators in support of their award

was   equally   plausible   did   not   make   out   a   case   for

interference by the Court. Arbitrators being Judges chosen

by the parties the view expressed by them would bind the

parties no matter the same is found to be erroneous and no

matter an alternative view was equally or even more

plausible. He urged that Clause 2.03 of NIT was rightly

interpreted by the Division Bench of the High Court which

did not call for any interference by this Court.

9.    The validity of the award made by the Arbitrators rests

entirely upon a true and correct reading of Clause 2.03 of

the Contract. That clause is in the following words:

           "2.03: It is hereby agreed that if the
           Company gives one month's notice to extend
                                             9

         the contract for a further period of one year
         from the expiry or the period mentioned in
         Clause 2.01, the contractor shall be bound to
         continue to do the work and render services
         on the same terms and conditions, as
         contained herein, during such extended
         period, except for the statutory increase in
         the wages of Dock Labour allowed by the
         Mormugao Dock Labour Board, for which
         documentary evidence shall have to be
         furnished by the contractor......
         ...................................................................................

         Note: The rates indicated against first and 2nd
         year above have been taken from MDLE'S
         Circulars from time to time. But the rates at
         which the contact is initially awarded shall
         remain firm throughout the period of one
         year from he date of award and shall not be
         subject to any escalation whatsoever.
         Similarly, the rates allowed for the extended
         period of one year, if any, after considering
         the statutory increase, if any, in the wages of
         Dock Labour will also remain firm throughout
         the extended period of one year and shall not
         be subject to any escalation whatsoever,
         irrespective of any subsequent increase in
         the    wages    of   Dock     Labour    allowed
         retrospectively by the Mormugao Dock
         Labour Board."

10. A careful reading of the above especially the Note

appended to Clause 2.03 (supra) leaves no manner of doubt
                              10

that the rate at which the contract was initially awarded was

to remain firm throughout the period of one year from the

date of the award of the contract. What is significant is that

for the first year the said rate was unalterable regardless of

any escalation, revision or other statutory increases made

during that period. Shri Ganesh, learned counsel for the

respondents also fairly conceded that insofar as the first

year of the contract was concerned the rates were not

subject to any revision and were to remain firm. If that be

so, the question is how far is that principle altered by the

later half of the Note which deals with the rates applicable

during the extended period of the contract. There are three

different aspects which stand out from a reading of that part

of the Note to Clause 2.03. Firstly, the second part of the

Note dealing with the rates applicable to the extended period

starts with the word `Similarly'. By using that expression the

Note draws an analogy between the firmness of the rates

applicable during the first year and those applicable for the

extended period of second year. The sentiment underlying
                              11

the Note is that the parties intend to keep the applicable

rates firm not only for the first year but also for the second

year.

11. The second aspect which emerges from a plain reading

of the Note is that the rates for the second year had to be

fixed by taking into consideration the statutory increases, if

any, in the wages payable to the Dock labourers which rate

once fixed was also to remain firm and impervious to any

escalation. The only difference between the first and the

second year rates thus is that the rates were firm even for

the second year but the same had to be fixed taking into

consideration the statutory increases in the wages of the

dock labourers.

12. The third aspect which in our opinion puts all doubts

about the true intention of the parties to rest is that any

subsequent increase in the wages of the dock labourers

would not result in any escalation of the rates even when

such revision is allowed retrospectively by the M.D.L.B. What
                             12

the Note in our opinion envisages is that on the completion

of the first year and at the beginning of the extended

contract period, the rates applicable shall have to be

determined by reference to the revisions that have already

come into effect as on the date of the commencement of the

extended period. It is manifest from a reading of the Note

that once an option is exercised the rate applicable to the

extended period shall stand revised taking into consideration

the revision of wages if any. Any such revision must of

necessity be made as on the date of the commencement of

the extended period. Once that is done the said rate would

remain firm till the end of the second year. The contract

does not, in our opinion, envisage settlement or revision of

the rate by reference to any stage post commencement of

the extended period. Even otherwise a contract for the

extended period could become effective only if rates

applicable to that period are settled or are capable of being

ascertained. Rates actually determined or determinable by

reference to 15th January, 1984 the date when the extended
                                13

period commenced, could include revision in wages made

upto that date. Any revision in the wages of the dock

labourers which the M.D.L.B. may have ordered subsequent

to 15th January, 1984 would have no relevance even if such

revision was made retrospectively from the date of the

commencement of the extended period. The Note makes it

abundantly clear that revision granted retrospectively would

be of no consequence whatsoever.

13. There is another angle from which the matter can be

viewed.    As to how the parties understood Clause 2.03 is

also an important factor that needs to be kept in mind.

While     accepting   the   extension   of   the   contract,   the

respondent-contractor had simply referred to the statutory

revision in the wages by M.D.L.B. during the `last year'.

Since the letter of acceptance is of 7th December, 1983 the

statutory revision which the contractor wanted to be taken

into consideration were revisions before 1983 and not those

made at any time after the extended period of contract.
                             14

This position is clear from the following lines appearing in

the letter of acceptance dated 7th December, 1983 :

          "However, we would like to inform you that
          there are lot of statutory revisions in the
          wages of Mormugao Dock Labour Board
          during last 1 year which you will have to
          consider while extending our contractual
          period. In this connection, the undersigned
          will call on your office to discuss the same
          personally in near future and we expect your
          cooperation in this regard."

14. The appellant's letter dated 27th January, 1984 sent in

reply to the above made it clear to the respondent that

Clause 2.03 of the NIT did not envisage escalation on the

basis of the revision subsequent to 15th January, 1984 even

if such revisions were already being discussed or negotiated

by the Dock Workers with the M.D.L.B. The following

passage from the said communication makes the position

abundantly clear:

          "A copy of clause 2.03 of Schedule II of
          N.I.T. is enclosed. From this, it will be very
          clear that whatever increases that have been
          allowed by M.D.L.B. upto 15.1.84, can only
          be considered for the escalation purposes,
                              15

          and not those increases in wages which are
          under negotiations, for which M.D.L.B.
          circulars will be issued subsequently after
          15.1.84, with retrospective effect."

15. The learned Single Judge of the High Court was, in the

light of the above, correct in holding that the award made by

the Arbitrators to the extent it directed payment of the

additional amount was unsustainable. The Division Bench,

however, fell in error in taking a contrary view and holding

that the interpretation placed by the Arbitrators was a

plausible interpretation.

16. That brings us to the question whether an Arbitrator

can make an award contrary to the terms of the contract

executed between the parties. That question is no longer res

integra having been settled by a long line of decisions of this

Court. While it is true that the Courts show deference to the

findings of fact recorded by the Arbitrators and even

opinions, if any, expressed on questions of law referred to

them for determination, yet it is equally true that the

Arbitrators have no jurisdiction to make an award against
                               16

the specific terms of the contract executed between the

parties. Reference may be made, in this regard, to the

decision of this Court in Steel Authority of India Ltd. v.

J.C. Budharaja, Government and Mining Contractor,

(1999) 8 SCC 122 where this Court observed :

 

         " ........ that it is settled law that the arbitrator
         derives authority from the contract and if he
         acts in manifest disregard of the contract, the
         award given by him would be an arbitrary
         one; that this deliberate departure from the
         contract amounts not only to manifest
         disregard of the authority or misconduct on
         his part, but it may tantamount to mala fide
         action......"

         ...... It is true that interpretation of a
         particular condition in the agreement would
         be within the jurisdiction of the arbitrator.
         However, in cases where there is no question
         of interpretation of any term of the contract,
         but of solely reading the same as it is and
         still the arbitrator ignores it and awards the
         amount despite the prohibition in the
         agreement, the award would be arbitrary,
         capricious and without jurisdiction. Whether
         the arbitrator has acted beyond the terms of
         the contract or has travelled beyond his
         jurisdiction would depend upon facts, which
         however would be jurisdictional facts, and
         are required to be gone into by the court.
         The arbitrator may have jurisdiction to
         entertain claim and yet he may not have
         jurisdiction to pass award for particular items
         in view of the prohibition contained in the
         contract and, in such cases, it would be a
         jurisdictional error...."
                               17

17. It was further observed:

          ".....Further, the Arbitration Act does not
          give any power to the arbitrator to act
          arbitrarily or capriciously. His existence
          depends upon the agreement and his
          function is to act within the limits of the said
          agreement....."

 

18. In W.B. State Warehousing Corporation & Anr. v.

Sushil Kumar Kayan & Ors. (2002) 5 SCC 679, again

this Court observed:

          "....... If there is a specific term in the
          contract or the law which does not permit the
          parties to raise a point before the arbitrator
          and if there is a specific bar in the contract to
          the raising of the point, then the award
          passed by the arbitrator in respect thereof
          would be in excess of his jurisdiction...."

 

19. In    Bharat    Coking     Coal      Ltd.   v.   Annapurna

Construction (2003) 8 SCC 154, this Court reiterated the

legal position in the following words:

 

          "There lies a clear distinction between an
          error within the jurisdiction and error in
          excess of jurisdiction. Thus, the role of the
          arbitrator is to arbitrate within the terms of
          the contract. He has no power apart from
          what the parties have given him under the
                              18

         contract. If he has travelled beyond the
         contract, he would be acting without
         jurisdiction, whereas if he has remained
         inside the parameters of the contract, his
         award cannot be questioned on the ground
         that it contains an error apparent on the face
         of the record."

 

20. In MD, Army Welfare Housing Organisation v.

Sumangal Services (P) Ltd. (2004) 9 SCC 619 also this

Court took the similar view and observed:

 

         "An Arbitral Tribunal is not a court of law. Its
         orders are not judicial orders. Its functions
         are not judicial functions. It cannot exercise
         its power ex debito justitiae. The jurisdiction
         of the arbitrator being confined to the four
         corners of the agreement, he can only pass
         such an order which may be the subject-
         matter of reference.

 

21   Reference may also be made to the decisions of this

Court in Associated Engineering Co. v. Government of

Andhra Pradesh & Anr. (AIR 1992 SC 232), Jivarajbhai

Ujamshi Sheth & Ors. v. Chintamanrao Balaji & Ors.

(AIR 1965 SC 214), State of Rajasthan v. Nav Bharat

Construction    Co.   (AIR        2005   SC    4430),   Food

Corporation    of   India    v.    Surendra,   Devendra     &
                               19

Mahendra Transport Co. (2003) 4 SCC 80, which

sufficiently settle the law on the subject.

22. That leaves us with the question whether the valid part

of the award can be saved by severance from the invalid

part.   Before the Arbitrators the respondent-Chairman had

quantified the claim at Rs.27,91,984.29 on account of

escalation of the rates consequent upon statutory increases

in the wages of M.D.L.B. during the extended period of

contract. A further sum of Rs.9,88,713.20 on account of

escalation in the wages of other categories of workers such

as   Tally   Clerks,   Stichers,    Foreman,   Asst.   Foremen,

Supervisors etc. was also made on the same basis.            In

addition, a claim for the recovery of Rs.8,63,953/- towards

the final payment due and payable to the claimant with

interest @ 18% p.a. on the same was also made.

23. In the light of the discussions in the earlier part of this

order the entitlement of the respondent to claim any amount

on account of escalation consequent upon the increase in
                              20

the wages of M.D.L.B. workers is not established. The first

two claims mentioned above on account of escalation could

not, therefore, have been allowed by the Arbitrators nor

could the incidental claim for payment of interest on that

claim be granted. The question then is whether there is any

lawful justification for disallowing the only other claim made

by the respondents representing the balance amount due to

the claimant towards its final bill. The only defence which

the appellant had offered to that claim was based on the law

of limitation. That defence having been withdrawn by Mr.

Divan, we see no real justification for disallowing the said

claim especially when the counter-claim made by the

appellant has been rejected and the said rejection was not

questioned before the High Court. In fairness to Mr. Divan

we must record that he did not seriously oppose the

severance of the award made by the Arbitrators so as to

separate the inadmissible part of the claim based on an

interpretation of Clause 2.03 from the admissible part.
                                 21

24. In the result we allow this appeal but only in part and

to the extent that the award made by the Arbitrators shall

stand   set    aside   except   to    the      extent         of     a     sum          of

Rs.8,63,953/-     which   amount      shall        be      payable          to      the

respondent-contractor with the interest @ 9% p.a. from 1st

April, 1985 till the date of actual payment thereof.

25. The parties to bear their own costs through out the

proceedings.

 

                                            .......................................J.
                                            (AFTAB ALAM)

                                            .......................................J.
                                            (T.S. THAKUR)
New Delhi
July 7, 2010