After Parties Agree On Sole Arbitrator, Meghalaya HC Appoints Jopmiki Shylla To Hear Military Engineering Contract Dispute

The petitioner filed an application under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, seeking appointment of an arbitrator to resolve disputes under Condition 70 of Contract Agreement No. CESZ/LEI/24 of 2020–2021, including claims in its Notice of Arbitration dated 12 May 2026

During the proceedings, counsel for both sides agreed to the appointment of Mr. Jopmiki Shylla, Advocate, as sole arbitrator

The application was brought under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, which provides for court appointment of an arbitrator in the circumstances specified by that provision.

The Court also directed the arbitrator to provide the statutory disclosure under Section 11(8) read with Section 12(1) of the Act.

The Court recorded that both parties had agreed to the appointment of Mr. Shylla as sole arbitrator.

In light of that agreement, it referred the disputes arising out of and in connection with the contract to him and gave directions concerning communication of the order, disclosure, the parties’ appearance, and arbitral costs.

The petitioner was directed to communicate the order and relevant party particulars to the arbitrator within two weeks; the arbitrator was requested to provide the required statutory disclosure; the parties were to appear for procedural directions; and arbitral costs and fees were to be borne equally in the first instance, subject to the final award on costs. The application was disposed of.