{"id":105992,"date":"2011-08-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2011-08-03T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/ms-milkfood-ltd-vs-ms-gmc-ice-cream-p-ltd-on-4-august-2011"},"modified":"2016-10-04T07:02:15","modified_gmt":"2016-10-04T01:32:15","slug":"ms-milkfood-ltd-vs-ms-gmc-ice-cream-p-ltd-on-4-august-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/ms-milkfood-ltd-vs-ms-gmc-ice-cream-p-ltd-on-4-august-2011","title":{"rendered":"M\/S Milkfood Ltd vs M\/S Gmc Ice Cream (P) Ltd on 4 August, 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"docsource_main\">Supreme Court of India<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_title\">M\/S Milkfood Ltd vs M\/S Gmc Ice Cream (P) Ltd on 4 August, 2011<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_bench\">Bench: R.V. Raveendran, A.K. Patnaik<\/div>\n<pre>                                                                                         Reportable \n\n\n                     IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA\n\n\n                       CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION\n\n\n                        CIVIL APPEAL NO.6316 OF 2011\n\n                     [Arising out of SLP [C] No.15165\/2008]\n\n\n\n\n\nM\/s. Milkfood Pvt. Ltd.                                              ... Appellant\n\n\nVs.\n\n\nM\/s. GMC Ice Cream (P) Ltd.                                          ... Respondent\n\n\n\n\n\n                                   J U D G M E N T\n<\/pre>\n<p>R.V. RAVEENDRAN,J.\n<\/p>\n<p>       Leave granted.\n<\/p>\n<p>2.     Under   an   agreement   dated   7.4.1992,   respondent   agreed   to <\/p>\n<p>manufacture   and   pack   appellant&#8217;s   product   (ice   cream)   as   per   the <\/p>\n<p>specifications   and   standards   of   the   appellant.   Clause   20   of   the   said <\/p>\n<p>agreement provided for settlement of disputes by arbitration. The said clause <\/p>\n<p>provided   that   the   venue   of   arbitration   should   be   Delhi   and   contract   was <\/p>\n<p>subject to Delhi jurisdiction.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                       2<\/span><\/p>\n<p>3.      Respondent   filed   a   suit   (T.S.No.40\/1995)   in   the   court   of   learned <\/p>\n<p>Munsif,   Gaya   (Bihar)   for   an   injunction   to   restrain   the   appellant   from <\/p>\n<p>interfering with the manufacture and supply of ice cream by the respondent.\n<\/p>\n<p>On   being   served   with   the   notice   of   the   said   suit,   the   appellant   filed   an <\/p>\n<p>application   under section  34  of  Arbitration   Act, 1940  (`Act&#8217;  for  short)  for <\/p>\n<p>stay of proceedings in the suit on the ground that the contract between the <\/p>\n<p>parties provided for arbitration. The learned Munsif by order dated 3.8.1995 <\/p>\n<p>allowed the appellant&#8217;s application under section 34 of the Act and stayed <\/p>\n<p>further proceedings in the suit.\n<\/p>\n<p>4.      The respondent filed a revision under section 115 of the Code of Civil <\/p>\n<p>Procedure (`Code&#8217; for short) before the Patna High Court against the order <\/p>\n<p>dated 3.8.1995. The High Court disposed of the said revision petition by the <\/p>\n<p>following order dated 6.5.1997 :\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>        &#8220;Before this court parties have agreed that the dispute between them may <\/p>\n<p>        be referred, as per the agreement to Arbitrators chosen by the parties. The <\/p>\n<p>        plaintiff   has   chosen   Shri   Uday   Sinha   a   retired   judge   of   this   court   and <\/p>\n<p>        Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court, while the defendants have chosen <\/p>\n<p>        Shri Hari Lal Agrawal, Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court, a former <\/p>\n<p>        judge of this court and Chief Justice of Orissa High Court as Arbitrators. <\/p>\n<p>        The dispute between the parties is referred to arbitrator.<\/p>\n<p>        I   hope   that   the   learned   Arbitrators   will   dispose   of   the   arbitration <\/p>\n<p>        proceedings within three months of the entering the reference.<\/p>\n<p>        Let   a   copy   of   this   order   be   sent   to   both   Shri   Hari   Lal   Agarwal   at   his <\/p>\n<p>        address Nageshwar Colony, Boring Road, Patna-1 and Shri Uday Sinha at <\/p>\n<p>        his Patna address 308 Patliputra Colony, Patna.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                   3<\/span><\/p>\n<p>       Parties are directed to appear before the Arbitrators within a month from <\/p>\n<p>       today.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>\n       Let   all   necessary   documents   be   filed   before   the   Arbitrators   within   four <\/p>\n<p>       weeks thereafter.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>\n       This application is disposed of.&#8221;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>It may be mentioned that long before the disposal of the revision petition, by <\/p>\n<p>notice dated 14.9.1995 the appellant had appointed its arbitrator and called <\/p>\n<p>upon the respondent to concur in that appointment or alternatively nominate <\/p>\n<p>its   arbitrator.   When   respondent   also   appointed   its   arbitrator,   the   two <\/p>\n<p>arbitrators appointed an umpire. The arbitral tribunal made an award dated <\/p>\n<p>17.8.2004 in favour of the respondent.\n<\/p>\n<p>5.     The respondent filed a suit under section 14 (2) of the Act in the court <\/p>\n<p>of Sub-Judge, Gaya on 28.8.2004 praying that the award be made a rule of <\/p>\n<p>the   court.   The   appellant   entered   appearance   on   28.10.2004   and   made   an <\/p>\n<p>application under Order 7 Rule 10 of the Code read with section 31(4) of the <\/p>\n<p>Act contending that only the Delhi High Court had jurisdiction to entertain <\/p>\n<p>the application and Gaya court did not have jurisdiction.\n<\/p>\n<p>6.     The   appellant   also   challenged   the   award   by   filing   a   petition   under <\/p>\n<p>sections 30 and 33 of the Act before Delhi High Court on 16.10.2004. On <\/p>\n<p>25.10.2005 the appellant&#8217;s petition under sections 30 and 33 of the Act was <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                               4<\/span><\/p>\n<p>disposed of by Delhi High Court on the ground that the award had been filed <\/p>\n<p>before   the   learned   Sub-Judge,   Gaya,   prior   to   filing   of   the   petition   by   the <\/p>\n<p>appellant   under   sections   30   &amp;   33   of   the   Act   and   since   the   matter   was <\/p>\n<p>pending in the Gaya court and the appellant had challenged the jurisdiction <\/p>\n<p>of that court, the Gaya court would decide whether it had jurisdiction; and if <\/p>\n<p>it came to the conclusion that it had no jurisdiction, that court could forward <\/p>\n<p>the   record   to   Delhi   High   Court,   in   which   event   the   appellant   could   seek <\/p>\n<p>revival of the petition under sections 30 and 33 of the Act.\n<\/p>\n<p>7.      The Sub-Court Gaya heard and dismissed the application filed by the <\/p>\n<p>appellant   (for   return   of   the   plaint   to   the   respondent)   by   order   dated <\/p>\n<p>23.3.2006   holding   that   it   had   jurisdiction   to   entertain   and   decide   the <\/p>\n<p>application under section 14(2) of the Act. The said order was challenged by <\/p>\n<p>the   appellant   by   filing   a   revision   petition   before   the   Patna   High   Court.   A <\/p>\n<p>learned single Judge of the Patna High Court dismissed the revision petition, <\/p>\n<p>by the impugned order dated 25.5.2008. He noted that the parties had earlier <\/p>\n<p>consented   before   the   Patna   High   Court   for   referring   the   disputes   to <\/p>\n<p>arbitration and that Patna High Court had recorded the said agreement and <\/p>\n<p>referred the disputes to arbitration by order dated 6.5.1997. He held that the <\/p>\n<p>said order dated 6.5.1997 should be considered to be an order under section <\/p>\n<p>8 of the Act; and if so, the order dated 6.5.1997 would be the order in the <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                     5<\/span><\/p>\n<p>first application under the Act in the reference; and as Patna High Court did <\/p>\n<p>not   have   original   jurisdiction,   the   Sub-Judge,   Gaya   which   was   the <\/p>\n<p>corresponding   civil   court   having   original   jurisdiction   would   have <\/p>\n<p>jurisdiction   to   entertain   the   application   under   section   14(2)   of   the   Act, <\/p>\n<p>having regard to section 31(4) of the Act. The said order is challenged in this <\/p>\n<p>appeal by special leave.\n<\/p>\n<p>8.     On   the   contentions   urged,   the   only   question   that   arises   for <\/p>\n<p>consideration   is   whether   the   proceedings   under   section   14(2)   of   the   Act <\/p>\n<p>could have been initiated only in the Delhi High Court and not before the <\/p>\n<p>Sub-court, Gaya, having regard to section 31(4) of the Act.\n<\/p>\n<p>9.     Section 31 of the Act deals with jurisdiction and the same is extracted <\/p>\n<p>below :\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>       &#8220;31. Jurisdiction.&#8211;(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, an award may <\/p>\n<p>       be   filed   in   any   Court   having   jurisdiction   in   the   matter   to   which   the <\/p>\n<p>       reference relates.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>                (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time <\/p>\n<p>       being   in   force   and   save   as   otherwise   provided   in   this   Act,   all   questions <\/p>\n<p>       regarding   the   validity,   effect   or   existence   of   an   award   or   an   arbitration <\/p>\n<p>       agreement between the parties to the agreement or persons claiming under <\/p>\n<p>       them   shall   be   decided   by   the   Court   in   which   the   award   under   the <\/p>\n<p>       agreement has been, or may be, filed, and by no other Court. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>            (3) All applications regarding the conduct of arbitration proceedings or <\/p>\n<p>       otherwise   arising   out   of   such   proceedings   shall   be   made   to   the   Court <\/p>\n<p>       where the award has been, or may be, filed, and to no other Court. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>            (4) Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Act or in any  <\/p>\n<p>       other   law   for   the   time   being   in   force,   where   in   any   reference   any  <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                   6<\/span><\/p>\n<p>       application   under   this   Act   has   been   made   in   a   Court   competent   to  <\/p>\n<p>       entertain it, that Court alone shall have jurisdiction over the arbitration  <\/p>\n<p>       proceedings-,   and   all   subsequent   applications   arising,   out   of   that  <\/p>\n<p>       reference,   and   the   arbitration   proceedings   shall   be   made   in   that   Court  <\/p>\n<p>       and in no other Court.&#8221;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>                                                                      (emphasis supplied)<\/p>\n<p>Sub-section (4) of section 31 provides where any application under the Act, <\/p>\n<p>in any reference,  had been made  in a court competent  to entertain  it, then <\/p>\n<p>notwithstanding anything contained in the Act (or in any other law for the <\/p>\n<p>time   being   in   force),   that   court   alone   shall   have   jurisdiction   over   the <\/p>\n<p>arbitration   proceedings   and   all   subsequent   applications   arising   out   of   that <\/p>\n<p>reference and therefore all arbitration proceedings shall be made in that court <\/p>\n<p>alone and not in any other court. Sub-section (4) of section 31 of the old Act <\/p>\n<p>corresponds to section 42 of the new Act.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>10.    As   the   court   where   the   first   application   was   made   is   the   court <\/p>\n<p>competent   to   entertain   all   subsequent   applications   under   the   Act,   it   is <\/p>\n<p>necessary   to   decide   where   the   first   application   in   the   reference   was   made <\/p>\n<p>under the Act. In chronological order, the four applications in the reckoning <\/p>\n<p>for being considered as the first application in the reference under the Act, in <\/p>\n<p>a competent court are :\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                               7<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>    (i)      The   application   dated   19.6.1995   filed   by   the   appellant   under <\/p>\n<p>             section 34 of the Act, in the court of Munsif, Gaya (resulting in the <\/p>\n<p>             order dated 3.8.1995).\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>    (ii)     The   revision   petition   dated   2.7.1996   filed   by   the   respondent <\/p>\n<p>             against the order dated 3.8.1995, under section 115 of the Code, in <\/p>\n<p>             the Patna High Court (resulting in the order dated 6.5.1997).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>    (iii)    The application made in April 1998 by the appellant under Section <\/p>\n<p>             33 of the Act, in the Delhi High Court (resulting in the order dated <\/p>\n<p>             13.10.1998).\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>    (iv)     The   application   dated   16.8.2000  by   the  respondent   under   section <\/p>\n<p>             27 of Arbitration &amp; Conciliation Act, 1996 in the Delhi High Court <\/p>\n<p>             (resulting in the order dated 1.10.2000).\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The  appellant  contends  that the first  application  in the reference  was filed <\/p>\n<p>under   the   Act   in   Delhi   High   Court   in   April,   1998   and   therefore   all <\/p>\n<p>subsequent proceedings including the application under section 14(2) should <\/p>\n<p>be filed in Delhi High Court. The respondent contends that the application <\/p>\n<p>made either in the Gaya Court on 19.6.1995 or in the Patna High Court on <\/p>\n<p>2.7.1996 should be considered to be the first application in the reference in a <\/p>\n<p>competent   court;   and   as   that   Patna   High   Court   did   not   have   original   civil <\/p>\n<p>jurisdiction, the corresponding civil court namely the Sub-Judge, Gaya was <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                               8<\/span><\/p>\n<p>the court where all applications, including an application under section 14(2) <\/p>\n<p>of the Act should be filed.\n<\/p>\n<p>11.     <a href=\"\/doc\/1862499\/\">In  Kumbha   Mawji   vs.   Union   of   India<\/a>  &#8211;   1953   SCR   878,   this   Court <\/p>\n<p>explained that the words `in any reference&#8217; would mean `in the matter of a <\/p>\n<p>reference to arbitration&#8217;. <a href=\"\/doc\/763774\/\">In Union of India vs. Surjeet Singh Atwal<\/a> &#8211; 1969 (2) <\/p>\n<p>SCC 211, this Court held that an application under section 34 of the Act is <\/p>\n<p>not   to   be   considered   as   an   application   under   the   Act   in   a   reference.\n<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, the application under section 34 of the Act filed by the appellant <\/p>\n<p>on 19.6.1995 cannot be considered to be the first application to a court in the <\/p>\n<p>reference to arbitration.   Let us next examine whether  the first application <\/p>\n<p>under  the  Act  in the  reference  was first  made   to the  Patna High  Court. A <\/p>\n<p>Revision   Petition   (C.R.No.1020\/1996)   was   filed   in   the   Patna   High   Court <\/p>\n<p>under section 115 of the Code, aggrieved by the order dated 3.8.1995 passed <\/p>\n<p>in   an   original   suit   filed   by   the   respondent.   The   order   dated   3.8.1995   was <\/p>\n<p>made   allowing   an   application   filed   by   respondent   for   stay   of   proceedings <\/p>\n<p>under section 34 of the Act. Therefore, the order dated 6.4.1997 appointing <\/p>\n<p>the arbitrators was made by Patna High Court, not in an application under <\/p>\n<p>the Act, but in a revision petition under section 115 of the Code. Further the <\/p>\n<p>said   revision   did   not   arise   out   of   arbitration   proceedings,   but   against   the <\/p>\n<p>rejection   of   an   application   under   section   34   of   the   Act   to   stay   the <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                9<\/span><\/p>\n<p>proceedings   in   a   civil   suit.   If   the   proceedings   in   which   the   order   dated <\/p>\n<p>6.5.1997 was made by the Patna High Court did not relate to an application <\/p>\n<p>under the Act in a reference, nor is it a revision arising from an application <\/p>\n<p>under   the   Act   in   a   reference,   it   is   not   possible   to   hold   that   the   first <\/p>\n<p>application   under   the   Act   in   a   reference   was   made   before   the   Patna   High <\/p>\n<p>Court.\n<\/p>\n<p>12.     At this juncture, it is necessary to notice the argument put forth by the <\/p>\n<p>respondent. The respondent contends that even though the revision petition <\/p>\n<p>did   not   arise   from   an   application   under   the   Act,   the   order   dated   6.5.1997 <\/p>\n<p>made  therein by the Patna High Court, recorded the consent of the parties <\/p>\n<p>that   the   disputes   may   be   referred   to   arbitrators   chosen   by   the   parties, <\/p>\n<p>recorded   the   names   of   the   arbitrators   appointed   by   them,   and   referred   the <\/p>\n<p>disputes  between   the  parties  to  arbitration.  According  to  the  respondent,  a <\/p>\n<p>court   can   appoint   an   arbitrator   either   under   section   20   or   section   8   of  the <\/p>\n<p>Act; as there was no application for filing the agreement under section 20 of <\/p>\n<p>the Act, the order dated 6.5.1997 should be deemed to have been made in an <\/p>\n<p>application   under   section   8   of   the   Act   to   the   High   Court.   The   respondent <\/p>\n<p>therefore   contends   that   the   Patna   High   Court   should   be   treated   as   a   court <\/p>\n<p>where first application under the Act was filed and therefore all subsequent <\/p>\n<p>applications   should   be   filed   in   that   court.   There   is   no   merit   in   this <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                  10<\/span><\/p>\n<p>contention.   Section   8   relates   to   the   power   of   civil   court   to   appoint   an <\/p>\n<p>Arbitrator or umpire. With reference to the facts of this case the power under <\/p>\n<p>section   8   of   the   Act   can   be   exercised   only   if   the   following   conditions <\/p>\n<p>mentioned in the section are fulfilled : (i) the parties did not concur in the <\/p>\n<p>appointments of arbitrators, when differences arose; (ii) one of the parties to <\/p>\n<p>the   arbitration   agreement   served   on   the     other   party   a   written   notice <\/p>\n<p>nominating   its   arbitrator   and   calling   upon   the   other   party   to   make   its <\/p>\n<p>nomination;  (iii) the other party did not appoint its arbitrator within 15 clear <\/p>\n<p>days after the service of such notice; and (iv) an application was made by the <\/p>\n<p>party who gave the notice under section 8 of the Act for appointment of the <\/p>\n<p>arbitrator.   The   order   dated   6.5.1997   of   the   Patna   High   Court   cannot   be <\/p>\n<p>considered   to   be   an   order   under   section   8   of   the   Act,   as   neither   an <\/p>\n<p>application   was   filed   under   section   8   of   the   Act   nor   the   conditions   for <\/p>\n<p>making an application under section 8 of the Act existed in this case.\n<\/p>\n<p>13.     As   noticed   above   the   said   order   was   made   in   a   revision   petition <\/p>\n<p>against   the   grant   of   an   application   under   section   34   in   a   suit   filed   by   the <\/p>\n<p>respondent.  All that  the  High Court did was to record  the submission  that <\/p>\n<p>both   parties   had   appointed   their   respective   arbitrators   and   therefore   the <\/p>\n<p>disputes stood referred to them. Such an order recording the nomination of <\/p>\n<p>arbitrators by consent and referring the disputes to arbitration, can be made <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                11<\/span><\/p>\n<p>in   any   suit   or   other   proceedings,   even   if   they   do   not   arise   under   the <\/p>\n<p>arbitration agreement or under the Act. If for example a civil suit is filed by <\/p>\n<p>a party against the other and there is no arbitration agreement between them, <\/p>\n<p>but   during   the   course   of   the   said   suit   both   parties   agree   that   the   matter <\/p>\n<p>should   be   referred   to   a   named   arbitrator   for   arbitration   and   the   court <\/p>\n<p>accordingly   refers   it   to   arbitration,   is   not   an   appointment   of   an   arbitrator <\/p>\n<p>under section 8 of the Act, but a consent order referring the disputes to the <\/p>\n<p>arbitrators already appointed by the parties. Therefore we can not accept the <\/p>\n<p>contention that the order dated 6.5.1997 of the Patna High Court should be <\/p>\n<p>treated as an order in a proceeding under section 8 of the Act. If the order <\/p>\n<p>dated   6.5.1997   is   not   an   order   made   in   an   application   under   the   Act   in   a <\/p>\n<p>reference, it follows that the question of making all subsequent applications <\/p>\n<p>arising out of the reference under the Act, to that court does not arise.\n<\/p>\n<p>14.     In this case the appellant filed an application (OMP No.94\/1998)   in <\/p>\n<p>the Delhi High Court under section 33 of the Act in April 1998 praying for a <\/p>\n<p>clarification   as   to   whether   the   arbitration   proceedings   between   the   parties <\/p>\n<p>would   be   governed   by   the   provisions   of   Arbitration   Act,   1940   or   by   the <\/p>\n<p>provisions   of   Arbitration   and   Conciliation   Act,   1996.   Thereafter   the <\/p>\n<p>respondent   made   an   application   (OMP   No.217\/2000)   to   Delhi   High   Court <\/p>\n<p>for summoning and examining one O.P.Singh as a witness in respect of the <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                            12<\/span><\/p>\n<p>pending arbitration, to produce certain documents. Therefore the application <\/p>\n<p>(OMP No.94\/1998) made by the appellant under section 33 of the Act will <\/p>\n<p>have to be treated as the first application under the Act in the reference. If <\/p>\n<p>that is so all subsequent applications will have to be made in the High Court <\/p>\n<p>of Delhi.\n<\/p>\n<p>15.    Learned counsel for respondent submitted that the application filed by <\/p>\n<p>it   in   OMP   No.217\/2000   for   issue   of   summons   to   a   witness   to   produce <\/p>\n<p>documents, cannot be treated as an application under the Act as it was filed <\/p>\n<p>under section 27 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 and not under <\/p>\n<p>the   provisions   of   section   43   of   Arbitration   Act,   1940.   OMP   No.217\/2000 <\/p>\n<p>was made for issue of processes for appearance of witness and production of <\/p>\n<p>documents, in a pending arbitration proceedings. When the application was <\/p>\n<p>filed in the year 2000, there was some confusion as to whether the new Act <\/p>\n<p>applied or the old Act applied. In fact that question was pending before the <\/p>\n<p>Delhi High Court in OMP NO.94\/1998 filed by the appellant. That issue was <\/p>\n<p>decided   by   Delhi   High   Court   on   13.10.1998   holding   that   the   matter   was <\/p>\n<p>governed   by   1996   Act,   but   that   order   was   reversed   by   the   order   dated <\/p>\n<p>5.4.2004 of this court in  Milkfood Ltd. Vs. GMC Ice Cream (P) Ltd. [2004 <\/p>\n<p>(7)   SCC   288]   holding   that   the   old   Act   applied   with   the   following <\/p>\n<p>observations : &#8220;For the reasons aforementioned, we are of the view that in <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                               13<\/span><\/p>\n<p>this case, the 1940 Act shall apply and not the 1996 Act. &#8230;. The award shall <\/p>\n<p>be filed in the court having jurisdiction whereafter the parties may proceed <\/p>\n<p>in terms of the old Act.&#8221; Therefore OMP No.217\/2000 could be deemed to <\/p>\n<p>have   been   made   under   section   43   of   the   Act.   At   all   events   as   OMP <\/p>\n<p>No.94\/1998   has   to   be   treated   as   the   first   application   under   the   Act,   Delhi <\/p>\n<p>High   Court   alone   will   have   jurisdiction   to   entertain   any   subsequent <\/p>\n<p>applications and therefore the court at Gaya will not have jurisdiction.  It is <\/p>\n<p>also relevant to note that the Arbitration clause provides  that the venue of <\/p>\n<p>arbitration shall be Delhi and Delhi courts will have jurisdiction.\n<\/p>\n<p>16.     In   view   of   the   above   we   allow   this   appeal,   set   aside   the   impugned <\/p>\n<p>order of the Patna High Court as also the order of Sub-Court, Gaya and hold <\/p>\n<p>that all applications should be filed in Delhi High Court.\n<\/p>\n<p>17.     The respondent shall therefore obtain return of the application under <\/p>\n<p>section 14(2) of the Act from the Gaya court and file it before Delhi High <\/p>\n<p>Court within two months from today. If it is so filed, Delhi High Court shall <\/p>\n<p>entertain the same and dispose it of in accordance with law. We may note <\/p>\n<p>that when the matter had come up before this court in the first round, in the <\/p>\n<p>order dated 5.4.2004, this court had expressed the hope that the award will <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                     14<\/span><\/p>\n<p>be made and all legal proceedings should come to an end within four months <\/p>\n<p>from the date of communication of that order. More than seven years have <\/p>\n<p>elapsed thereafter and the proceedings have not ended. We therefore request <\/p>\n<p>the High Court to dispose of the matter expeditiously.\n<\/p>\n<p>                                             &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;J.\n<\/p>\n<p>                                             (R V Raveendran)<\/p>\n<p>New Delhi;                                   &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;..J.\n<\/p>\n<p>August   4, 2011.                            (A K Patnaik)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Supreme Court of India M\/S Milkfood Ltd vs M\/S Gmc Ice Cream (P) Ltd on 4 August, 2011 Bench: R.V. Raveendran, A.K. Patnaik Reportable IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO.6316 OF 2011 [Arising out of SLP [C] No.15165\/2008] M\/s. Milkfood Pvt. Ltd. &#8230; Appellant Vs. M\/s. GMC Ice Cream [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-105992","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-supreme-court-of-india"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>M\/S Milkfood Ltd vs M\/S Gmc Ice Cream (P) Ltd on 4 August, 2011 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; High Court | Legal India<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/ms-milkfood-ltd-vs-ms-gmc-ice-cream-p-ltd-on-4-august-2011\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"M\/S Milkfood Ltd vs M\/S Gmc Ice Cream (P) Ltd on 4 August, 2011 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; 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