In Brief
A manufacturing firm in Delhi entered into a Buyers Agreement with a French buyer in 2012 for exclusive supply of home furnishing products. The buyer failed to pay admitted outstanding dues of approximately €394,000 and allegedly breached contract terms by cancelling orders and sourcing from competitors. After the French court declined jurisdiction citing the arbitration clause, the Indian Supreme Court examined a petition to appoint an arbitrator. Holding that the parties' arbitration agreement was valid and the disputes fell within its scope, the Court appointed a retired Delhi High Court judge as sole arbitrator and directed both parties to pursue their claims through arbitration rather than litigation, leaving them to bear their own costs."
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