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CASE NO.: Appeal (civil)  3376-3377 of 2008

PETITIONER: M/s. Associated Construction

RESPONDENT: Pawanhans Helicopters Pvt. Ltd

DATE OF JUDGMENT: 07/05/2008

BENCH: TARUN CHATTERJEE & HARJIT SINGH BEDI

JUDGMENT: JUDGMENT

                                        REPORTABLE

           IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA              CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

          CIVIL APPEAL Nos.3376-3377/2008            (arising out of SLP (C) Nos. 17335-17336/2007)

M/s. Associated Construction             ..........Appellant

          Vs.

Pawanhans Helicopters Pvt. Ltd.          .........Respondent

                JUDGMENT

HARJIT SINGH BEDI,J.

1.   Leave granted.

2.   The   respondent,   Pawanhans    Helicopters    Pvt.      Ltd.

(hereinafter called "Pawanhans") a Government of India

undertaking, floated two tenders for allocation of work for

construction of a compound wall and a bridge over a nala.

Pursuant to the aforesaid information, several tenders were

received and the tenders of the appellant (hereinafter called

the "contractor") were ultimately accepted.   Pursuant to the

aforesaid, two formal agreements providing for the terms and

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conditions of the contract in the shape of general conditions

of the contract and special conditions of the contract

governing the execution of work were duly signed on 12th

October 1999. As per the contract the work was required to

be completed within four months. It appears that on account

of some delay which was attributable to Pawanhans, the work

did   not    proceed   as   per   schedule     and   the    contractor

accordingly    informed     Pawanhans     by    letters    dated     15th

February 1990, 23rd February 1990, 24th March 1990, 26th

June 1990 and 6th July 1990 that the work was getting

delayed as the requisite facilities for its completion had not

been provided and highlighting several factors attributable to

it had supervened which had led to the delay. The contractor

also in the meanwhile vide letters dated 27th July 1990 and 6th

August      1990   requested   the    respondent     to    release   the

outstanding bills against the work already completed and also

requested for the "Virtual Completion Certificate" vide letter

dated 25th August 1990. As some work on the compound wall

still remained to be completed, the contractor agreed to take

up this assignment subject to waiver of the discount of 8.2%

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which was to be given to Pawanhans till then and the

completed works were duly handed over to Pawanhans on the

12th November 1990. The contractor had also submitted a bill

dated 23rd June 1991 and it was conveyed to Pawanhans that

it expected compensation on account of the variation in the

terms of the contract.    Pawanhans thereupon advised the

contractor to submit a final bill which too was submitted. The

bill was verified by Pawanhans and referred to the contractor

yet again with objections. The contractor vide letter dated 21st

November 1991 disputed the verification as being without any

foundation and also reserved its right to seek arbitration.

After a protracted correspondence, Pawanhans vide letter of

9th December 1991 advised the contractor to submit a "No

Claim Certificate" as a pre-condition for the release of the

balance payment. The contractor wrote to Pawanhans that it

was in dire need of finances and was being subjected to

duress but nevertheless submitted a "No Dues Certificate"

dated 17th February 1992 once again specifically highlighting

that the same was being issued under duress. It appears that

despite the issuance of the aforesaid certificate, Pawanhans

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still did not release the payment on which the contractor wrote

another letter dated 5th May 1992 and several letters

thereafter but again to no effect, and on the contrary received

a letter dated 8th June 1992 from Pawanhans asking for a "No

Dues Certificate" as per the enclosed specimen without

attaching any condition to the same. The contractor, now in a

desperate     situation,    submitted    yet     another   "No      Claim

Certificate" dated 18th June 1992 as per directions.                After

receiving the aforesaid document,             Pawanhans in its letter

dated 9th February 1993 informed the contractor that a period

of two months would be required for the scrutiny of its bills

and vide letter dated 21st May 1993 also intimated that the

bills   had     been       submitted    for     verification   by     the

Architect/Engineer as per the terms of the contract and that

in case it was willing to defray the payment, the matter could

be referred to arbitration.      The contractor finally received a

communication dated 8th June 1993 pointing out that as all

payments due under the contract had been made and as a "No

Dues Certificate" had been furnished, no further amount was

due.    The contractor accordingly served a notice dated 28th

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June 1993 on Pawanhans invoking the clause relating to

arbitration.     The matter was referred to arbitration by two

registered Architects as per the clause.             The contractor

submitted its statement of claim for the outstanding amount

plus compensation and damages on 6th August 1994.                The

arbitrators passed two awards on 31st December 1996, one

with respect to the contract for the compound wall and the

second for the construction of the bridge awarding certain

amounts to the contractor.               Aggrieved by the awards,

Pawanhans filed two separate petitions under sections 30 and

33 of the Arbitration Act, 1940 before the Bombay High Court

for a direction that the awards be set aside.        The    learned

Single Judge in his judgment and order dated 9th December

1998 held that clauses 18 and 34 of the contract when read

together, provided for the payment of escalation charges as

the work had not been completed within four months on

account of the fault on the part of the respondent and that the

said   clauses    did   not   prohibit    such   a   payment,   more

particularly as time was the essence of the contract and as the

contract was not on a fixed price, the prohibition of escalation

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was if at all to be read during the period of contract only. The

learned Single Judge also repelled the arguments of the

respondent that after having submitted the final bill on 25th

October 1991, it was not open to the appellant herein to

submit a second final bill on 2nd February 1993 by observing

that the payment received on the 4th July 1993 as a

consequence of the bills submitted on 25th October 1991, was

under duress and it is on that account that the appellant had

given the aforesaid certificate. Some objections raised by the

respondent herein were however accepted by the learned

Single Judge and the award was accordingly modified and it is

the admitted case that the aforesaid modification has been

accepted and was not challenged before the Division Bench by

the contractor.

2.    Two appeals were thereafter filed by Pawanhans before

    the Division Bench of the Bombay High Court.           The

    Division Bench vide its order dated 7th June 2007

    allowed the appeals and set aside the order dated 9th

    December 1998 of the learned Single Judge as also the

    two awards dated 31st December 1996 by highlighting as

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a preface that it could not be disputed that the scope for

interference by the court under section 30 or 33 of the

Arbitration Act was limited as the court could not sit as a

court of appeal on the decisions arrived at by the

arbitrator.   The Court then applied the aforesaid

principle to the facts of the case and relied on clauses 18

and 34 ibid observed that a plain reading of the said

clauses did not visualize any claim for escalation or

reduction towards the cost of the work and again

reiterated that clause 34 of the agreement prohibited the

contractor from claiming any extra amount on account of

fluctuation of price.        The Court further observed,

somewhat in contradiction, that a remedy towards the

escalation of price had been provided by clause 43 of the

contract and clause 43-1(E) specifically provided, the

procedure whereby such a claim could be made and as

the procedure prescribed by the clause had not been

adopted, it was not open to the contractor to contend

before the arbitrator that it was entitled to some

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    payments on account of price escalation.        The Court

    finally concluded that:

         "Once it is clear that the respondents are           not entitled to claim escalation charges           and the entire dispute, which is the           subject matter of the appeals being           related to the escalation charges, the           impugned orders, to the extent they           confirm the award in relation to the           escalation charges, are liable to be set           aside and the petitions filed by the           appellants challenging the awards in           relation to the grant of the escalation           charges are liable to be allowed to that           extent.    Consequently, the claims for           interest on the amount of damages           awarded towards the escalation are also           liable to be set aside."

3.   The Division Bench then examined the issues raised by

the contractor as to whether that "No Due Certificate" had

been given under duress and held that there was no evidence

to show that the said certificate had been given under duress

or coercion and as the certificate itself provided a clearance of

no dues, the contractor could not now turn and say that any

further payment was still due on account of the second final

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bill. The Division Bench accordingly allowed the appeal. The

matter is before us in these circumstances.

4.   Mr. Shyam Divan, the learned senior counsel for the

contractor, has raised several arguments before us during the

course of the hearing.     He has first pointed out that the

awards rendered by the arbitrator were non-speaking and in

this view of the matter, the scope for judicial interference was

extremely limited and interference with the findings of the

Arbitrators was, therefore, not called for. He has also pleaded

that clauses 18 and 34,       as per their plain interpretation

themselves visualized a claim for escalation where the delay

had been caused by the opposite party and that in any case,

the bar on the escalation, if at all, could be restricted only for

the period of contract i.e. four months and not thereafter. He

has also submitted that clause 43-1(C) on which reliance had

been placed by the Division Bench for non-suiting the

contractor, was misplaced          as this clause   too did not

specifically or even by implication whittle down the effects of

clauses 18 and 34. It has also been argued that the finding of

the Division Bench that there was no duress on the contractor

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relating to the issuance of the "No Claim Certificates" was

incorrect in the light of the voluminous evidence to the

contrary on record.

5.   Mr. Raju Ramachandran, the learned senior counsel

appearing for Pawanhans has fairly and at the very outset

pointed out that the award in question was non-speaking and

as such the scope for interference by the court was limited.

He has further contended that it would perhaps be difficult to

read into the clauses a complete bar towards escalation, as a

court would be reluctant to visualize such a bar in the light of

some unforeseen situations that might arise in the execution

of a work and the gates, thus, could not for ever be closed, but

has submitted that clause 43 provided for such an opening

and as this procedure had not been adopted by the contractor,

the claim under clauses 18 and 34 was not maintainable. He

has also submitted that the "No Dues Certificate" having once

being given by the contractor, it was not open to it to make a

volte-face and to challenge the said certificate on the ground

that it had been given under duress and the finding of the

Division Bench on this point was, therefore, correct.

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6.   We have heard the learned counsel for the parties and

gone through the record. As would be apparent, the matter

would rest on an interpretation of clauses 34, 43 (1) and (2) of

the General Conditions of the Contract and clause 18 of the

Special Conditions of the Contract.      We reproduce herein

below the clauses abovementioned:

         "34. The contractor shall not claim any      extras for fluctuation of price and the contract      price shall not be subject to any rise or fall of      prices.

         43 (1) E. Architect’s instructions issued      in regard to the postponement of any work to      be executed under the provisions of this      contract; and if the written application is made      within a reasonable time of it becoming      apparent that the progress of the work or of      any part thereof has been affected as      aforesaid:

         Then the Architect shall ascertain the      amount of such loss and/or expense. Any      amount from time to time so ascertained shall      be added to the amount which would      otherwise be stated as due in such certificate.

         43 (2) The provisions of this condemn are      without prejudice to any other rights and      remedies which the contractor may possess.

         18. It is specifically pointed out that the      contractor shall not be entitled to any      compensation whatsoever on account of:

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    1.   Any delay in supply of any material.

    2.   Any increase in costs of any material.

    3.   Any subsequent increase in cost of any      material due to increase in other charges like      Railway, Steamer, freights or taxes and duties.

    4.   Any increase in labour costs."

7.   We have examined the arguments raised by the learned

counsel in the light of the aforesaid and other provisions. It is

the admitted position that as per clause 38, the date of the

commencement of the contract was 1st November. 1989 and

the date stipulated for the completion of the work was 28th

February 1990. It is also clear from sub-clause (7) of clause 1

of the General Conditions that time would be the essence of

the contract. We also see from clause 43 aforequoted that this

clause has within itself the clear indication that the embargo

placed by clauses 18 and 34 was not sacrosanct as has been

found by the Division Bench as there could be a situation

where the contractor had suffered loss for whatever reasons

which was required to be reimbursed as per procedure

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prescribed in clause 43.     Clause 43 (2) also specifically

provided that clause 43 was without prejudice to any other

rights and remedies that the contractor might possess.    We

find from a reading of the judgment of the Division Bench that

the contractor has been non-suited on the plea that it had

failed to proceed under clause 43. On the contrary we believe

that Clause 43 is a clause which should be read in aid of the

contractor as it clearly provides for indemnity in case there

was a delay in the completion of the work which could be

attributable to Pawanhans.   We are, further, of the opinion

that even assuming for a moment that there could be no price

escalation during the period of 4 months i.e. during the

pendency of the contract, such embargo would not be carried

beyond that period as time was the essence of the contract.

The learned Division Bench has relied upon a large number of

judgments in support of its decision that in case of a clause

barring the escalation in the price, it was not open to the

contractor to claim any amount under that head. A perusal of

the aforesaid judgments, however, do not show any provision

in terms of clause 43, and that in any case, these judgments

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pertain to a claim of price escalation during the period of

contract. It must also be borne in mind that a court does not

sit as one in appeal over the award of the arbitrator and if the

view taken by the arbitrator is permissible, no interference is

called for on the premise that a different view was also

possible.     We also feel that in commercial transactions all

situations     cannot   be   visualized   and   the   positive   and

unchallenged finding in the present case is that the delay in

the execution of the work was occasioned on account of

reasons attributable to Pawanhans.         It cannot, therefore, be

said that the award of the arbitrator was so unconscionable

that it required interference.        In MCD vs. M/s.Jagan Nath

Ashok Kumar & Anr. (1987) 4 SCC 497, it was observed

thus:

                  "In this case, there was no violation         of any principles of natural justice. It is not a         case where the arbitrator has refused cogent         and material factors to be taken into         consideration. The award cannot be said to be         vitiated by non-reception of material or non-         consideration of the relevant aspects of the         matter.    Appraisement of evidence by the         arbitrator is ordinarily never a matter which         the court questions and considers.           The         parties have selected their own forum and the

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    deciding forum must be conceded the power of      appraisement of the evidence. In the instant      case, there was no evidence of violation of any      principle of natural justice. The arbitrator in      our opinion is the sole judge of the quality as      well as quantity of evidence and it will not be      for this Court to take upon itself the task of      being a judge of the evidence before the      arbitrator. It may be possible that on the      same evidence the court might have arrived at      a different conclusion than the one arrived at      by the arbitrator but that by itself is no ground      in our view for setting aside the award of an      arbitrator."

and further concluded:

         "After all an arbitrator as a judge in the      words of Benjamin N. Cardozo, has to exercise      a discretion informed by tradition, methodized      by analogy, disciplined by system, and      subordinated to "the primordial necessity of      order in the social life".

8.   P.M.Paul vs. Union of India (1989) Supp 1 SCC 368 is

a case which is almost identical on facts. In this matter the

work could not be completed during the period of the contract

and the contractor was accordingly granted extension of time

to complete the same. By an order of this Court, the dispute

was referred to an Arbitrator on the reference as to who was

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responsible for the delay in the completion of the work, what

were to be the repercussions of the delay and how to

apportion the responsibility and the consequences.       The

arbitrator made an award in favour of the contractor which

was duly challenged by the Union of India with the matter

finally reaching this Court at the instance of the contractor

and this is what the Court had to say.

                    "It was submitted that if the           contract work was not completed within           the stipulated time which it appears was           not done then the contractor has got a           right to ask for extension of time, and he           could claim difference in price. This is           precisely what he has done and has           obtained a portion of the claim in the           award. It was submitted on behalf of the           Union of India that failure to complete           the contract was not the case. Hence,           there was no substance in the objections           raised. Furthermore, in the objections           raised, it must be within the time           provided for the application under           Section 30 i.e., 30 days during which the           objection was not specifically taken, we           are of the opinion that there is no           substance in this objection sought to be           raised in opposition to the award. Once           it was found that the arbitrator had           jurisdiction to find that there was delay           in execution of the contract due to the           conduct     of    the    respondent,   the           respondent      was     liable   for   the

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         consequences of the delay, namely,           increase in prices.        Therefore, the           arbitrator had jurisdiction to go into this           question. He has gone into that question           and has awarded as he did."

9.   A similar view has been taken by this Court in

K.N.Sathyapalan (D) By Lrs. vs. State of Kerala & Anr.

(2006) 12 SCALE 654. It has been held as under:

         "We have intentionally set out the      background in which the Arbitrator made his      award in order to examine the genuineness      and/or validity of the appellant’s claim under      those heads which had been allowed by the      Arbitrator. It is quite apparent that the      appellant was prevented by unforeseen      circumstances from completing the work      within the stipulated period of eleven month      and that such delay could have been      prevented had the State Government stepped      in to maintain the law and order problem      which had been created at the work site. It is      also clear that the rubble and metal, which      would have been available at the departmental      quarry at Mannady, had to be obtained from      quarries which were situated at double the      distance, and even more, resulting in doubling      of the transportation charges. Even the space      for dumping of excess earth was not provided      by the respondents which compelled         the      appellant to dump the excess earth at a place      which was for away from the work site      entailing extra costs for the same.

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           In the aforesaid circumstances, the       Arbitrator appears to have acted within his       jurisdiction in allowing some of the claims on       account of escalation of costs which was       referable to the execution of the work during       the extended period, In our judgment, the view       taken by the High Court was on a rigid       interpretation of the terms of contract and the       Supplemental Agreement executed between       the parties, which was not warranted by the       turn of events."

10.   We are, therefore, of the opinion in the light of the

aforesaid judgments, that it was open to the contractor to

contend that it was liable to be compensated on account of the

fact that delay had been occasioned on account of reasons

attributable to Pawanhans. It is significant that the Division

Bench of the High Court has been silent on this aspect of the

matter and has not referred to the finding of the learned Single

Judge with regard to the responsibility for the delay.

11.   We are further of the opinion that clause 43 and 43 (1)

and (2) when read together clearly visualize escalation of price

on account of reasons beyond the control of the contractor

and attributable to the other side.    Moreover clause 43 (2)

clearly states that the remedy under clause 43(1) would be in

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addition to such other remedy that may be open to the

contractor under the other provisions.

12.   We have also gone through the record with respect to the

finding of the Division Bench that there was no duress or

coercion on the contractor which had compelled it to give a

"No Dues Certificate". Mr. Raju Ramachandran has, however,

submitted that the story about duress was an after thought in

the background that the first final bill had been submitted by

the contractor on the 3rd June 1991 and the second final bill

on 2nd February 1993 i.e. almost 2 years later and that in any

case, a second final bill was not visualized under the contract.

He has submitted that the observation of the arbitrator that

submission of the second final bill was sanctioned as a trade

practice was without any basis.      We have gone through the

record in the light of the submissions of the learned counsel.

We first refer to the letter of the contractor of 11th July 1990 to

which reference has been made by the Division Bench

requesting Pawanhans to ensure a regular power supply. The

letter of 27th July 1990 by the contractor refers to the

statement of accounts submitted by it and requests for

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payment as per the accounts which had been cleared by the

Architect. It is to be noted that these letters are on the record

and were written by the contractor at the time when the work

was in the process of completion. The desperate tone of the

contractor is however supported by the letter of 10th January

1991 in which it was noted that though repeated requests had

been made for the payment atleast against the bills certified

by the Architect, a huge amount had been blocked arbitrarily

over a long period of time and a request was made for its

release.     The letter dated 21st November 1991 is again a

reminder to Pawanhans asking for payment and that in case

there was a dispute, the matter be referred to the arbitrator

and submitting that payment should be made atleast with

respect to those dues which had been certified by the

Architect.     The   letter   dated   9th   December   1991   from

Pawanhans to the contractor shows that payment could be

considered provided the contractor submitted a "No Claim

Certificate". It appears that such certificate was indeed issued

but with no result on which the contractor in his letter dated

26th December 1991 in reply to the letter dated 9th December

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1991, once again submitted that the payments be released in

so    far    as   they    had      been   certified     by   the

Architects/Consultants and if there was a dispute regarding

the other payments, they should be referred to an arbitrator

and in desperation further adds:

          "However, if you want to hold us to         economic duress by not paying what you         wish to pay, without "No Claim Certificate",         we shall treat it as "Duress" and issue you         such a certificate much against our         willingness as we cannot afford to liquidate         our dues by such a certificate.

        Please do not hold us to a ransom and       arrange to pay. In case you would still like to       insist, let us know, so that we could issue you       such a certificate under duress as we have       serious financial problems."

14.   It appears that despite the pleading tone of the aforesaid

letter no payment was made on which the contractor wrote yet

another letter dated 17th February 1992 in which it was

submitted as under:

         "Inspite of our claim statements, you         have insisted on "No Claim Certificate", we         hereby give you this certificate that we have         "No Claims" and hence you pay us what you         might have worked out as our "Final Dues".

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          In case, you have a particular draft in         which a "No Claim" Certificate need be         issued to receive our dues of our bill, please         let us have the deft, or else this letter may         be treated as the certificate of "No Claim"         from our side."

15.   When no action was taken, another letter dated 5th May

1992 was addressed to Pawanhans by the contractor stating

that as they were facing economic duress on account of the

payment being held back, and as a "No Claim Certificate" had

been issued, the payment be defrayed as promised or else

they might have to refer the matter to the arbitrator.    The

letter dated 8th June 1992 is again tell-tale and we reproduce

the contents hereunder:

              "Kindly let us know what is it that           we have to do to get money which you           say is payable but only on your           extracting "No Claim" certificate under           duress. Please take note if you fail to pay           us our dues, we shall be constrained to           take you to court for which you will           blame yourself if it inconvenience is           caused. It is a clear 15 days notice           please."

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16.   It appears however that no steps were taken on which

the contractor addressed a letter dated 2nd February 1993 for

payment of dues and again stated that if the payment was not

made, the dispute should be referred to the arbitrator.       In

response to this letter, Pawanhans in its letter dated 9th

February 1993 replied that the matter        was under scrutiny

and it would take about 2 months for verification and that the

contractor would be informed in due course. As no reply was

received, a letter dated 21st May 1993 was addressed by the

contractor      relating          to       the      undertaking

that the enquiry would be completed within 2 months but

complaining that nothing had been done and on the contrary

on 8th June 1993 the claim for any payment was rejected by

Pawanhans observing that as a          "No Dues Certificate" had

been submitted by the contractor, the question of any balance

payment being due did not arise. It is at this stage that the

contractor had invoked the clause for arbitration.     We have

reproduced the correspondence in extenso to show that the

contractor was compelled to issue a "No Dues Certificate" and

in this view of the matter, it could not be said that the

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contractor was bound by what he had written. It is also clear

that there is voluminous correspondence over a span of

almost 2 years between the submission of the first final bill on

3rd June 1991 and the second final bill dated 2nd February

1993 and as such the claim towards escalation or the plea of

the submission of a "No Dues Certificate" under duress being

an after thought is not acceptable.          In M/s. Ambica

Construction vs.    Union of India (2006) 12 SCALE 149 it

was observed as under:

                    "A glance at the said clause           will immediately indicate that a No Claim           Certificate is required to be submitted by           a contractor once the works are finally           measured up. In the instant case the           work was yet to be completed and there           is nothing to indicate that the works, as           undertaken by the contractor, had been           finally measured and on the basis of the           same a No Objection Certificate had been           issued by the appellant. On the other           hand, even the first Arbitrator, who had           been appointed, had come to a finding           that No Claim Certificate had been given           under coercion and duress. It is the           Division Bench of the Calcutta High           Court which, for the first time, came to a           conclusion that such No Claim Certificate           had not been submitted under coercion           and duress.

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                      From the submissions made            on behalf of the respective parties, and in            particular from the submissions made on            behalf of the appellant, it is apparent that            unless a discharge certificate is given in            advance, payment of bills are generally            delayed.     Although, Clause 43(2) has            been included in the General Conditions            of Contract, the same is meant to be a            safeguard as against frivolous claims            after final measurement. Having regard to            the decision in the case of Reshmi            Constructions’s (supra), it can no longer            be said that such a clause in the contract            would be an absolute bar to a contractor            raising claims which are genuine, even            after the submission of such No Claim            Certificate."

17.   We are therefore of the opinion that the judgment of the

Division Bench is erroneous and we accordingly set it aside.

The judgment of the learned Single Judge is accordingly

restored. In the facts and circumstances of the case, in that

Pawanhans has taken advantage of a beleaguered contractor,

and has behaved in a most unbecoming manner in pushing it

ever deeper into the chasm, the contractor will have its costs

which are computed at Rs.10,000/-.            The appeals are

accordingly allowed.

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                     ..................................J.                       (TARUN CHATTERJEE)

                     ...................................J.                       ( HARJIT SINGH BEDI )

New Delhi, Dated: May 7, 2008