Home Case Index All Cases Indian Laws Indian Laws + SC Indian Laws - 2018 (4) TMI SC This
Forgot password New User/ Regiser ⇒ Register to get Live Demo
2018 (4) TMI 851 - SC - Indian LawsValidity of Arbitral Award - award pertaining to Bank Guarantees and the amounts specified in Exhibit- GG of the Claim Petition - Refurbishment of Thermal Power Plant - termination of contract - violation of a fundamental condition of the Contract i.e. non-furnishing of a Letter of Comfort from the Power Finance Corporation as provided in Clause 5.6 of the Onshore Supply Contract - misrepresentation of the warranty contained in Clause 19.2 (vii) of both the Onshore and Offshore Supply Contracts and Clause 20.2 of the Onshore Services Contract. Held that: - the assertion made by the Board that the Units were achieving a capacity of 120 MW when operating in accordance with the good industrial practice, was found to be incorrect by the Arbitral Tribunal. We do not intend to take a different view on the findings of the fact recorded by the Arbitral Tribunal - Even if the Board believed that Units 3 and 4 were in fact designed for a capacity of 120 MW and operated at 120 MW, if it was found later that the assertion relating to the said capacity and functioning was not true, a clear case of misrepresentation, as per Section 18 of the Contract Act was made out. The evidence on record discloses that the Claimants could not ascertain the actual capacity and the functioning of the Units in spite of their best efforts. The relevant records were not furnished by the Board to enable the Claimants to ascertain the actual facts. The evidence on record supports the contention of the Claimants that it was not possible to ascertain the capacity and functioning of the Units only on the basis of visual inspections. The Arbitral Tribunal was of the opinion that the invocation of the Bank Guarantee was improper as it was not preceded by a Notice of Default as contemplated in Clause 16.3 of the Supply Contracts and a subsequent notice of termination under Clause 17.1 of the Supply Contracts. In view of the finding of the Arbitral Tribunal that the Board committed a serious breach of the contract and wrongfully terminated the contract, the Claimant was held to be entitled to return of the amounts for which the Bank Guarantees were given. The Bank Guarantee given on 24.02.2000 was a Performance Bank Guarantee and the Claimant is entitled for return of the amount for which the Bank Guarantee was given. The Arbitral Tribunal, however, failed to take notice of the fact that the other two Bank Guarantees were given for the amounts to be advanced by the Board. In fact, the Board had advanced the said amounts to the Claimants - the Claimant is not entitled for return of the amounts involved in the Bank Guarantees dated 22.02.2000 and 23.02.2000 as they were towards the amounts advanced by the Board. The award of the Arbitral Tribunal upheld with the modification that the Claimants are not entitled for the amounts involved in the Bank Guarantees dated 22.02.2000 and 23.02.2000 given by the Claimants - appeal disposed off.
|