In Brief
The dispute concerned the jurisdictional authority to appoint an arbitrator in an ongoing commercial contract dispute. The respondent had filed an interim application under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 before the Vishakhapatnam Court, and later petitioned the Orissa High Court under Section 11(6) to appoint an arbitrator. The Supreme Court held that Section 42 of the Act vests exclusive jurisdiction in the Court where the first application is made. Since proceedings began at Vishakhapatnam, only the High Court of Andhra Pradesh had jurisdiction over subsequent applications. The Orissa High Court's appointment was accordingly quashed and the matter remitted to the proper forum.
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