# FIRM MADANLAL ROSHANLAL MAHAJAN v. HUKUMCHAND MILLS LTD., INDORE

- **Citation:** [1967] 1 S.C.R. 105
- **Court:** Supreme Court of India
- **Decided:** 1966-08-19
- **Case number:** Civil Appeal No. 878 of 1964
- **Bench:** K. N. Wanchoo, J.C. Shah, R. S. Bachawat
- **Source:** https://unisonlegal.in/judgment/supreme-court-of-india/firm-madanlal-roshanlal-mahajan-v-hukumchand-mills-ltd-indore-3897
- **Pages:** 5

## Headnote

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Indian Arbitr"11on Act, 1940 (Ace 10 of 1940)-Arbitrator, puwera of
-Lump sum award-A.mendmfnt of issue--lnterest pendente lite.
The respondent filed a suit ·against the appellant claiming two SlllnS
as losses in respect of two items and interest oo the same.
The disputes were referred to an arbitrator, before whom the respondent did
not press for interest prior to the institution of the suit, but pressed
its claim for th<> two sums and interests from the date of the institution
of the suit till recovery. At the time of writing of the award,
the
arbitrator corrected ooe of the issues to show thst the claim was for
the price of the items. The arbitrator passed a lump sum award in
respect of both items, and awarded interest oo that sum from the elate
of the award till the date of payment. The award was filed in Court,
and the appellant's appli.Cation for setting aside tho award was dismi•sed
by the District Judge. This was confirmed by the High Court. In appeal,
this Court,
·
HELD:
(i) The arbitrator could give a lump Sllf11 award. He was
not bound to give a separate award for each claim; His award on both
fact and law is final.
There is no appeal from hi3 verdict. The court
cannot review his award and correct any mistake in his adjudication;
unless an objection to the legality of the award is apparent on the fa~•.
of it. (107 GJ
Cluzmpsey Bhara & Company v. Jivray Ba/lo Spinning and WellVin;>'
Company Ltd., L.R. 50 I.A. 324, referred to.
In the present case the arbitrator gave no reasons for. the award.
There is no legal proposition which is the basis of the award, far leos a
legal proposition which is erroneous. [108 BJ
(ii) By amending an issue behind the back of the
appellant,
the
arbitrator was not guilty of misconduct.
By this amendment the appellant
suffered no prejudice. (108 C-DJ
(iii) ln an arbitration in a suit, the arbitrator has power to award,
pendente Ute interest.
Though, in terms, s. 34 of the Code of Civil Procedure do.. nol
apply to arbitrations, it was an implied term of the reference in the
suit that the arbitrator would decide the dispute according to law and
would give such relief with regard to pendente lit, interest as the Court
could give if it decided the dispute. This power of the arbitrator was
not fettered either by the arbitration agreement· or by the Arbitration
Act, 1940. In the present case, all the disputes in the suit were referred
to the arbitrator and one of the disputes in the suit was whether the
Tespondent was entitled to pendente lire interest. [I 09 DJ

## Text

A
FIRM MADANLAL ROSHANLAL MAHAJAN
v.
HUKUMCHAND MILLS LTD., INDORE
August 19, 1966
B
[K. N. WANCHOO, J.C. SHAH AND R. S. BACHAWAT, JJ.J
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Indian Arbitr"11on Act, 1940 (Ace 10 of 1940)-Arbitrator, puwera of
-Lump sum award-A.mendmfnt of issue--lnterest pendente lite.
The respondent filed a suit ·against the appellant claiming two SlllnS
as losses in respect of two items and interest oo the same.
The disputes were referred to an arbitrator, before whom the respondent did
not press for interest prior to the institution of the suit, but pressed
its claim for th<> two sums and interests from the date of the institution
of the suit till recovery. At the time of writing of the award,
the
arbitrator corrected ooe of the issues to show thst the claim was for
the price of the items. The arbitrator passed a lump sum award in
respect of both items, and awarded interest oo that sum from the elate
of the award till the date of payment. The award was filed in Court,
and the appellant's appli.Cation for setting aside tho award was dismi•sed
by the District Judge. This was confirmed by the High Court. In appeal,
this Court,
·
HELD:
(i) The arbitrator could give a lump Sllf11 award. He was
not bound to give a separate award for each claim; His award on both
fact and law is final.
There is no appeal from hi3 verdict. The court
cannot review his award and correct any mistake in his adjudication;
unless an objection to the legality of the award is apparent on the fa~•.
of it. (107 GJ
Cluzmpsey Bhara & Company v. Jivray Ba/lo Spinning and WellVin;>'
Company Ltd., L.R. 50 I.A. 324, referred to.
In the present case the arbitrator gave no reasons for. the award.
There is no legal proposition which is the basis of the award, far leos a
legal proposition which is erroneous. [108 BJ
(ii) By amending an issue behind the back of the
appellant,
the
arbitrator was not guilty of misconduct.
By this amendment the appellant
suffered no prejudice. (108 C-DJ
(iii) ln an arbitration in a suit, the arbitrator has power to award,
pendente Ute interest.
Though, in terms, s. 34 of the Code of Civil Procedure do.. nol
apply to arbitrations, it was an implied term of the reference in the
suit that the arbitrator would decide the dispute according to law and
would give such relief with regard to pendente lit, interest as the Court
could give if it decided the dispute. This power of the arbitrator was
not fettered either by the arbitration agreement· or by the Arbitration
Act, 1940. In the present case, all the disputes in the suit were referred
to the arbitrator and one of the disputes in the suit was whether the
Tespondent was entitled to pendente lire interest. [I 09 DJ
Case law referred to.
Crvrr, APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 878 of 1964.
M14Sup Cl/66 ~8
105
106
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[1967) I S.C.R.
Appeal by special leave from the judgment and dacree dated
A
April 30, 1960 of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Civil
First Appeal No. 41 of 1960.
K. L. Gosai11, S. K. Mehta and K. L. Mehta, for the appellant.
S. T. Desai, S. N. Prasad, J. B. Dadachanji, O. C. Mathur and
Ravinder Narain, for the respondent.
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
Bachawat. J. The appellant and the respondent entered into
three contracts whereby the appellant agreed to buy and the respondent agreed to sell 352 bales of cloth. Originally, the contracts
provided for delivery of the goods in May/June, 1948. The parties
subsequently agreed that part of the goods would be delivered in
June. 1948 and the balance goods would be delivered in July, 1948.
The dispute between the parties concerns an item of 176 bales and
another item of 46t bales. The respondent claimed from the
appellant a sum of Rs. 1,72,856/- made up of (I) Rs. 84,006/2/-
for loss in respect of 176 bales resold by the respondent with the
consent of the appellant and (2) Rs. 88,849/14/- for the balance of
the price of 46t bales bargained and sold but not taken delivery
of by the appellant. On February 6, 1950, the respondent instituted against the appellant Civil Suit No. 10-A of 1950 in the Court
of the District Judge, Indore claiming the aforesaid sum of
Rs. 1,72.856/-, interest thereon from July), 1948 up to January 30.
1950, godown rent, interest from the date of the institution of
the suit and costs. On or about May 15, 1950, the disputes in
the suit were referred to the sole arbitration of Sri S. M. Samvatsar, advocate.
Before the arbitrator, the respondent did not press
its claim for godown rent and for interest prior to the institution of
the sait, but pressed its claim for the aforesaid sum of Rs. 1,72,856/-
and for interest from the date of the institution of the suit till recovery
of the amount and costs. One of the submissions of the appellant
before the arbitrator was that in view of a certain control order, it
amid not take delivery of 46! bales, and in case it was held liable
for tbe contract price, it should be allowed a rebate for the current
market price on its giving up its claim to the bales. After hearing
the parties, tbe arbitrator made his award on November 30, 1961.
The award recited the disputes between the parties and their respective contentions and submissions and then directed that "the defendant should pay Rs. I, 17, 108-7-9 in all to the plaintiff and to give
up Llaim to 46} bales. The defendant should pay interest on the
abo;·~ sum to the plaintiff at the rate of six annas per cent per month
frora this day till the day of payment. Both the parties to bear
their own costs. The plaintiff to deposit arbitration fees which
amc,unt to Rs. 1740/- and to reco\·er half of its amount, Rs. 870/-
from the defendant." The award was filed in Court. The appellant
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FIRM MADANLAL v. HUKUMCHAND MILLS (Bachawat, /.) 107
filed an application to set aside. tbe award. By its order dated
December 22, 1952, the District Judge, Indore, dismissed the
application, and passed a decree on the award. An appeal from
this order preferred by the appellant was dismissed by the High
Court of Madhya Pradesh, Jabalpur. The correctness of the judgment · of the High Court is challenged in this appeal by special
leave.
Counsel for the appellant submitted that the 11ward should be
set aside for three reasons: He submitted, firstly, that there were
errors of law apparent on the face of the award. Now, the claim .
of the respondent consisted of two items. The first item of claim
was 84,006/2/- for loss on resale of 176 bales. The respondent's
case was that 176 bales were resold with the consent of the appellant
and under the authority given by it in a letter dated July 10, 1948.
The appellant's case was that no authority for the resale of all the
176 bales was given by the letter and the resale was not made with its
consent. The second item of claim was for Rs. 88,849/14/- on
account of the price of 46
bales. The respondent's case was
that 46t bales were sold and the property in the goods had
passed to the appellant on June 30, 1948 and yet the appellant had
not taken \leliyery of the bales. The appellant's case was that the
contract in respect of46t bales remained executory and it stoo
cancelled on the passing of the freezing order dated July 30, 1948
. by the Textile Commissioner, Indore under cl. 25(b) of the Indore
Cotton Textiles (Control) Order, 1948, whereby the respondent
was directed not to deliver any cloth or yarn from the Mills' premises.
The appellant submitted that, in any event, having regard to this
freezing order it should not be held liable for the full price of 46t
bales and on its giving up its claim to the bales, should ~ made
liable for only the difference between the contract price and the
market price. On a consideration of the contentions and submissions of the parties, the arbitrator directed the appellant to pay
Rs. 1, 17, 108/7/9 and to give up its claim to 46! bales.
As the
respondent was allowed to retain the bales, the arbitrator passed a
lwnp sum award for Rs. 1,17,108/7/9 only in respect of both items
of the respondent's claim. The arbitrator could give a lump sum
award. He was not bound to give a separate award for each claim.
His award on both fact and law is final. There is no appeal from
his verdict. The Court cannot review his award and correct any
nristake in his adjudication, unless an objectiqn to the legality of
the award is apparent on the face of it. In Champsey Bltora &
Company v. Jivrai Ba/loo Spinning and Weaving Company Ltd.(!),
the Privy Council stated:
"An error in law on the face of the award means, in their
Lordships' view, that you can find in the award or a document
actually
incorporated thereto, as for instance
a note
·---
(I) L. R. 50 I. A. 324.
108
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[1967] 1 s.c.•.
appended by the arbitrator stating the reasons for his
A
judgment, some legal proposition which is the basis of the
award and which you can then say is erroneous."
In the present case, the arbitrator gave no reason for the award.
We do not find in the award any legal proposition which is the basis
of the award, far less a legal proposition which is erroneous. It is
not possible to say from the award that the arbitrator was under a
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misconception of law. The contention that there are errors of law
on the face of the award is rejected.
Counsel then submitted that by amending an issue behind
the back of the appellant. the arbitrator was guilty of misconduct.
This contention has no force. The arbitrator had raised two issues.
The second issue referred to the respondent's claim in respect of. C
46! bales
?S a claim for loss in respect of the bales. At the time
of the wnting of the award, the arbitrator corrected this issue so
as to show that the claim was for the price of the bales. By this
amendment, the appellant suffered no prejudice. The parties well
knew that the respondent claimed the price of 46! bales and
fought the case before the arbitrator on that footing.
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The last objection to the award is that the arbitrator had no·
power to award interest during the pendency of the suit. In support
of this objection, counsel for the appellant relied upon the following
observations of Bose, J. in Seth Thawardas Pheruma/ v. The Union
of India (1):
"It was suggested that at least interest from the date of
'suiC could be awarded on the analogy of section 34 of the
Civil Procedure Code, I 908.
But section 34 does not
apply because an arbitrator is not a 'court' within the meaning of the Code nor does the Code apply to arbitrators,
and, but for section 34, even a Court would not have the
power to.give interest after the suit. This was, therefore,
also rightly struck out from the award.'.'
These observations divorced from their context, lend colour to tlie
argument that the arbitrator has no power to award pendente lite
interest. But, in later cases, this Court has pointed out that the
observations in Seth Thmvardas's case (1) were not intended to lay
down such a broad and unqualified proposition, see Nachiappa
Chettiar v. Subramaniam Chettiar (2), Satinder Singh v. Amrao
Singh ('). The relevant facts regarding the claim for interest in
Seth Thawardas's case(') will be found at pp. 64 to 66 of the Report
and in paragraphs 2, 17 and 24 of the judgment of the Patna High
Court reported in Union vf India v. Premchand Satram Das (•).
The arbitrator awarded
rnterest on unliquidated damages for a
_(i).[195512 s.c.R.48,65~
!~) 11960] 2s.c.R.~09,238:
(lJ 'I J;' I 3 S. C.R. 676, 695.
(4) A. I. R. 1951Pat.201,204-205.
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FIRM MADANLAL V. HUKUMCHAND MILLS (Bachawat, /.)
109
period before the reference
to arbitration and also for ·a
period subsequent to the reference. The High Court set aside the
award regarding interest on tlie· ground that the claim for interest
was not referred to arbitration and the arbitrator had no jurisdiction to entertain the claim. In this Court, counsel for the claimant
contended that the arbitrator had statutory power under the Interest
Act of 1839 to award the interest and, in any event, he had power to
award interest during the pendency of the arbitration proceedings
. under s. 34 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. Bose, J. rejected
tliis contention. It will be noticed that the judgment of this Court
in Seth Thawardas' s case(') is silent on the question whether the
arbitrator can award interest during the . pendency of arbitration·
proceedings if the claim regarding interest is referred to arbitration.
In the present case, all the disputes in the suit were referred to the
arbitrator for his decision. . One of the disputes in the suit was
whether
the respondent was entitled to pendente lite interest.
The arbitrator could decide the dispute and he could award pendente
lite interest just as a Court could do so under s. 34 of the Code of
Civil Procedure. Though, in terms, s. 34 of the Code of Civil
Procedure does not apply to arbitrations, it was an implied term
of the reference in the suit that the arbitrator would decide the
dispute according to law and would give such relief with regard to
pendente lite interest as the Court could give if it decided the dispute.
This power of the arbitrator was not fettered either by the arbitration agreement or by the Arbitration Act, 1940. The contention
that in an arbitration in a suit the arbitrator had no power to award
j}endente lite interest must be rejected.
In the result, the appeal js dismissed with costs.
Y.P.
Appeal dismissed.
· (I} (1955] 2 S.C.R. 48, 6S.