High Court · 2025

Arb. O.P. Nos.39, 40, 43, 42,45 to 49 & 51 to 71 of 2025IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED : 19.09.2025CORAMTHE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE N. ANAND VENKATESHArb. O.P. Nos.39, 40, 43, 42,45 to 49 & 51 to 71 of 2025M/s.NISSI Engineering Solution Pvt. Ltd.Rep. by its Authorised Signatory Mr.M.KarthikeyanPlot No.263 & 264, 15th Street, Venkatachalam NagarThirumullaivoyal, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600 062Having Operating Office No.14, Shanthi Street, Hospital Road(Opp. Stedford Hospital), CholapuramAmbattur, Chennai 600 053Having Branch OfficeNo.27/14, Kuppusamy Nagar, Second StreetAyanavaram, Chennai 600 023...Petitioner in all O.PsVs.Aravindhan S...Respondent in Arb. O.P.39/2025Thabeeb Mohamed Burvez M...Respondent in Arb. O.P.40/2025Karuppasamy S...Respondent in Arb. O.P.43/2025Kinsleen R...Respondent in Arb. O.P.42/2025Selva Kumar M...Respondent in Arb. O.P.45/2025Karthik D...Respondent in Arb. O.P.46/2025Ranjithkumar M...Respondent in Arb. O.P.47/2025Karthikeyan M...Respondent in Arb. O.P.48/2025Siva M...Respondent in Arb. O.P.49/2025Udaya Abinesh R...Respondent in Arb. O.P.51/2025Manikandan S...Respondent in Arb. O.P.52/2025Akilan M...Respondent in Arb. O.P.53/20251/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Arb. O.P. Nos.39, 40, 43, 42,45 to 49 & 51 to 71 of 2025Kannan B...Respondent in Arb. O.P.54/2025MD Shah Alam...Respondent in Arb. O.P.55/2025Kasi Vishal K.P....Respondent in Arb. O.P.56/2025Ajithkumar A...Respondent in Arb. O.P.57/2025Abdul Mukshith C.J....Respondent in Arb. O.P.58/2025Shuvam Mitra...Respondent in Arb. O.P.59/2025Vinoth M...Respondent in Arb. O.P.60/2025Santhosh Kumar S...Respondent in Arb. O.P.61/2025Anbu Manikandan D...Respondent in Arb. O.P.62/2025Mohamed Safeek P...Respondent in Arb. O.P.63/2025Immanuel Raja A...Respondent in Arb. O.P.64/2025Godson J...Respondent in Arb. O.P.65/2025Guruprasath C...Respondent in Arb. O.P.66/2025Hakkim Arsath M...Respondent in Arb. O.P.67/2025Mohamed Rilwan A...Respondent in Arb. O.P.68/2025Sureshkumar M...Respondent in Arb. O.P.69/2025Mohamed Hasan M...Respondent in Arb. O.P.70/2025Karthikeyan M...Respondent in Arb. O.P.71/2025Petitions filed under Section 11(5) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, to appoint a sole Arbitrator to adjudicate all the disputes between the petitioner and the respondent based on the terms of agreement for training-cum-services dated 08.02.2023, 13.11.2023, 29.11.2022, 10.08.2022, 04.09.2023, 27.11.2023, 17.10.2023, 27.11.2023, 13.12.2022, 06.12.2022, 25.04.2022, 22.05.2023, 26.10.2022, 18.01.2024, 03.10.2023, 18.06.2024, 17.07.2023, 20.02.2024, 19.12.2022, 14.06.2023, 11.09.2023, 21.08.2023, 25.02.2022, 19.06.2023, 25.09.2023, 21.08.2023, 02.02.2023, 02.08.2023, 01.10.2024 and 24.07.2023, respectively.For petitioner: Mr.T.Harish Chowdhary2/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Arb. O.P. Nos.39, 40, 43, 42,45 to 49 & 51 to 71 of 2025in all Arb. O.Ps C O M M O N O R D E RThese petitions have been filed under Section 11(5) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (in short “the Act”), for appointment of a sole Arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes between the petitioner and the respondents in each petition based on the terms of agreement for training-cum-services dated 08.02.2023, 13.11.2023, 29.11.2022, 10.08.2022, 04.09.2023, 27.11.2023, 17.10.2023, 27.11.2023, 13.12.2022, 06.12.2022, 25.04.2022, 22.05.2023, 26.10.2022, 18.01.2024, 03.10.2023, 18.06.2024, 17.07.2023, 20.02.2024, 19.12.2022, 14.06.2023, 11.09.2023, 21.08.2023, 25.02.2022, 19.06.2023, 25.09.2023, 21.08.2023, 02.02.2023, 02.08.2023, 01.10.2024 and 24.07.2023, respectively.2. Notice on the sole respondent in Arb.O.P.Nos.39, 40, 43, 42, 45, 46, 49, 51, 52, 53, 55 to 59, 62, 64, 65, 66, 67, 70 & 71 was effected through paper publication and affidavit of service has also been filed. Insofar as the sole respondent in Arb.O.P.Nos.47, 48, 54, 61, 63 & 69 of 2025, name of the respondent has also been printed in the cause list. There is no appearance either in 3/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Arb. O.P. Nos.39, 40, 43, 42,45 to 49 & 51 to 71 of 2025person or through counsel for any of the above respondents. Hence, this Court heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.J.Antony Jesuraja, learned counsel for the sole respondent in Arb.O.P.Nos.60 & 68 of 2025 and carefully perused the materials available on record.3. The petitioner is a private limited company and in the course of their business, the respondents were appointed as employees in their designation as Engineers. The petitioner company and the respondents also signed an agreement for training-cum-service. As per the relevant clause in the agreement, the respondents are required to undergo a mandatory training period for two years and after the mandatory training period, based on the performance of the respondents, the petitioner company will extend the employment for another two years. The respondents also agreed for the said condition imposed by the petitioner company.4. The agreement also specifically provided that it will be left open to the respondents to show their willingness to resign from the petitioner company only after successfully completing the agreed four year tenure with the petitioner company.4/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Arb. O.P. Nos.39, 40, 43, 42,45 to 49 & 51 to 71 of 20255. The grievance of the petitioner company is that the respondents have abandoned their services from the petitioner company, without paying the compensation as contemplated under the agreement for resignation. Even though several attempts were made for recovering the amount or to hand over the assets of the company, such attempts proved futile. 6. The agreement provides for resolving the dispute through Arbitral Tribunal under Clause 28 of the agreement. Hence, trigger notices were issued under Section 21 of the Act on 20-1-2025, 14-2-2025, 24-12-2024, 20-1-2025, 25-3-2025, 20-1-2025, 24-12-2024, 24-12-2024, 24-12-2024, 14-2-2025, 24-12-2024, 20-1-2025, 20-1-2025, 14-2-2025, 24-12-2024, 14-2-2025, 20-1-2025, 24-12-2024, 24-12-2024, 20-1-2025, 14-2-2025, 24-12-2024, 24-12-2024, 14-2-2025, 24-12-2024, 24-12-2024, 24-12-2024, 24-12-2024, 25-3-2025 and 4-2-2025. In spite of receipt of the same, the respondents failed to accord their consent. The petitioner was also not in a position to appoint an Arbitrator unilaterally, in the light of the judgment of the Apex Court. It is under these circumstances, all these petitions have been filed before this Court seeking 5/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Arb. O.P. Nos.39, 40, 43, 42,45 to 49 & 51 to 71 of 2025for appointment of an Arbitrator.7. In the considered view of this Court, there is existence of a valid arbitration clause in the agreement and the agreement is perfectly in line with Section 7 of the Act. Hence, this Court is inclined to appoint an Arbitrator. Accordingly, Mr.K.V.Babu, Advocate (E.No.971/1990) (Mobile No.98400 75917), F-101, Subiksha Trinity, No.9/14, 4th Street, Bakthavatchalam Nagar, Adyar, Chennai-600 020, is appointed as sole Arbitrator and the learned Arbitrator shall adjudicate the disputes between the parties and render an award.8. Even though each petition deals with individual agreements, the issue that is involved in all cases is common. Hence, the learned Arbitrator shall hear all the claim petitions and while fixing the fees, the learned Arbitrator shall claim the fees in accordance with the Madras High Court Arbitration Centre (MHCAC) (Administrative Cost and Arbitrator's Fees) Rules 2017 and in line with the Fourth Schedule, by consolidating the entire claim amount and shall fix the fees on that consolidated amount. These applications are disposed of in the above terms.19.09.20256/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Arb. O.P. Nos.39, 40, 43, 42,45 to 49 & 51 to 71 of 2025gyaNote : Registry to communicate this orderforthwith to the learned sole Arbitrator7/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Arb. O.P. Nos.39, 40, 43, 42,45 to 49 & 51 to 71 of 2025N. ANAND VENKATESH, J.gyaArb. O.P. Nos.39, 40, 43, 42,45 to 49& 51 to 71 of 2025 19.09.20258/8