2 SCOB [2015] AD TATA Power Company Ltd Vs M/S Dynamic Const.
(Muhammad Imman Ali, J) 15
2 SCOB [2015] AD 15
APPELLATE DIVISION
PRESENT
Madam Justice Nazmun Ara Sultana
Mr. Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain
Mr. Justice Muhammad Imman Ali
Mr. Justice Mohammad Anwarul Haque
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 268 OF 2009
(From the judgment and order dated 5th of June, 2007 passed by the High Court Division in
Arbitration Case No. 03 of 2006)
TATA Power Company Limited ... Appellant
= Versus =
M/S Dynamic Construction ... Respondent
For the Appellant :Mr. Ahsanul Karim, Advocate, instructed
by Mvi. Md. Wahidullah
Advocate-on-Record
For the Respondent :Mr. A.Y. Mosheuzzaman, Advocate,
instructed by
Mr. Bivash Chandra Biswas
Advocate-on-Record
Date of hearing
:The 11th of February, 2014
Date of judgment
:The 5th of March, 2014
The arbitral award is generally not open to review by Courts for any error in finding on facts
and applying law for the simple reason that it would defeat the very purpose of the arbitration
proceedings. ...(Para 20)
Whenever an award is challenged before any Court, the Court, i.e. either District Court or as in
this case the High Court Division, does not sit on appeal over the decision of the learned
Arbitrator. Therefore, the scope of considering the merits of the case and factual aspects is
again very limited. ...(Para 23)
The factual and contractual positions are matters for decision of the Arbitrator and as such,
unless there appears to be gross illegality, neither the High Court Division nor this Division
would enter into the merit of such arguments. ...(Para 24)
JUDGEMENT
MUHAMMAD IMMAN ALI, J:-
1. This Civil Appeal, by leave, is directed against the judgment and order dated 05.06.2007 passed
by a Single Bench of the High Court Division in Arbitration Case No. 03 of 2006 modifying the
Arbitral Award dated 29.08.2006 and directing the appellant to pay the respondent a sum of Taka
2 SCOB [2015] AD TATA Power Company Ltd Vs M/S Dynamic Const. (Muhammad Imman Ali, J) 16
61,60,000/ only with interest accrued thereon from the date of Arbitral Award dated 29.08.2006 at the
rate of 2%.
2. The facts of the case, in brief, are the appellant Tata Power Company Limited (Tata) is a
company incorporated under the Indian Companies Act, 1913. The respondent M/S Dynamic
Construction (Dynamic) is a proprietorship concern engaged in the construction of civil and electrical
works. The appellant was appointed as contractor by the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Limited
(PGCB) an enterprise of the Bangladesh Power Development Board, for the Design and Construction
of 230 KV Khulna-Bheramara-Ishurdi Transmission Line on turnkey basis under a contract executed
on 30.05.2004. The appellant thereafter invited tenders from qualified contractors of Bangladesh in
respect of the said work for being appointed as sub-contractors. The respondent submitted its bid and
its offer was accepted. The appellant and the respondent along with two other contractors whose
tenders had also been accepted held several meetings and an agreement was signed between the
parties. In the final meeting held on 05.8.2004 Minutes of the Meeting (MOM) was drawn up and
signed by the appellant and the respondent. In accordance with the provisions of the MOM the
respondent was to undertake the work for construction of 68 KM. 230 KV transmission line between
Khulna Central and New Khulna Sub-station under certain terms and conditions. The appellant
thereafter, vide letter dated 10.09.2004, issued a Letter of Intent (LOI), inter alia, with a request to
mobilise all resources so as to commence the foundation work on 01.10.2004. Accordingly, the
respondent began the work of mobilisation for commencement of the work. It may be noted here that
the Letter of Intent(LOI)dated 10.09.2004 stipulated that the respondent should “arrange mobilization
of all resources based on this LOI, so as to commence foundation work on 1st October, 2004.”
However, other conditions were mentioned “which would form an integral part of our detailed
Purchase Order”. The first of these conditions was that the respondent had ”to arrange approval from
PGCB before commencement of foundation work i.e. before 1st October, 2004.”
3. While the respondent was performing its obligations in accordance with the LOI, the appellant
terminated the contract by a fax massage dated 01.01.2005 (transmitted on 08.1.2005). The
respondent vide letter dated 02.03.2006 disputed the letter of termination and invoked the arbitration
proceeding by issuing a notice of arbitration. The parties mutually agreed to appoint Justice
Naimuddin Ahmed to act as the sole Arbitrator for resolving the disputes between them.
4. The respondent (Claimant) made its claim by submitting its statement of claim stating, inter
alia, that, in part performance of the contract, it mobilised the materials and equipment as instructed
but the appellant illegally terminated the contract on 01.01.2005. In the statement of claim, the
respondent claimed that he had invested the following amounts towards execution of the contract:
a Stone Supplier- 2 Persons advance 20,00,000/-
.
B Kuchi Stone Supplier-Person Advance 10,00,000/-
.
C Rig advance Deposit 8,00,000/-
.
D Land collateral with Bank 30,00,000/-
.
E Land collateral with Bank 20,00,000/-
.
F Stringing Equipment Lease 20,00,000/-
.
G Purchase of Automobile for Tk. 10,00,000/-
.
H Two times Travel Expense to India 1,00,000/-
.
I Land visit supervisor and valuation 2,00,000/-
.
J Stockyard for Lease of properties (Land) 3,60,000/-
.
2 SCOB [2015] AD TATA Power Company Ltd Vs M/S Dynamic Const. (Muhammad Imman Ali, J) 17
K Salary of 2 B.S.C Engineers 3 Diploma 6,00,000/-
.
1,30,60,000/-
5. The Claimant prayed for the following relief:
a. A declaration to the effect that the termination of the contract by the respondent No. 1
(appellant) by the fax message dated 01.01.2005 is illegal.
b. Damage to the tune of Tk. 1,30,60,000/ incurred by it for mobilisation of resources and
c. Costs.
6. The appellant denied the allegations made in the statement of claim by filing a statement of
defence and also laid a counter-claim against the claimant in the form of damage for a sum of Tk.
8,25,000/-.
7. The Arbitral Tribunal after hearing the parties passed the Award on 29.08.2006. In deciding the
Award the learned Arbitrator raised the following issues.
“1. Was the order of termination of the contract by Respondent No. 1 according to the
terms of the contract and lawful?
2. Is the Claimant entitled to claim any amount from Respondent No. 1 for his alleged
mobilisation of resources?
3. Did the Claimant incur any expenditure for mobilisation of resources as alleged? If
so, to what extent?
4. Is the counter-claim laid by Respondent No. 1 sustainable? If so, to what extent?
5. Is the Claimant entitled to get any declaration to the effect that the termination of
the contract with it by Respondent No. 1 is illegal and without lawful authority and a
violation of the contract?
6. Is the Claimant entitled to get any amount for mobilisation of resources? If so, to
what extent?
7. Is the Respondent No. 1 entitled to get any amount as damage from the Claimant?
If so, to what extent?
8. To what other relief, if any, are the parties entitled?”
8. Issue No. 1 was decided against the claimant. Issue Nos. 2 and 3 were decided partly in favour
of the claimant. The Tribunal came to a finding that the claimant had incurred the following
expenditure for mobilisation of resources.
1 Stone Supplier- 2 Persons advance 20,00,000/-
.
2 Kuchi Stone Supplier-Person Advance 10,00,000/-
.
3 Rig advance Deposit 8,00,000/-
.
4 Land collateral with Bank 30,00,000/-
.
5 Land collateral with Bank 20,00,000/-
.
6 Stringing Equipment Lease 20,00,000/-
.
7 Stockyard for Lease 3,60,000/-
.
8 Salary of 2 B.S.C Engineers 3 Diploma 6,00,000/-
.
1,11,60,000/-
2 SCOB [2015] AD TATA Power Company Ltd Vs M/S Dynamic Const. (Muhammad Imman Ali, J) 18
9. Issue No. 4 was decided against the respondent No. 1 and its counter-claim was dismissed. The
Tribunal determined issues No. 5, 6, 7 and 8 and passed the award in the following terms.
AWARD
“1. The claim of the claimant is allowed in part. The claimant is awarded an amount
of Taka 1,11,60,000/- only payable by the respondent No. 1.
The respondent No. 1 shall pay the aforesaid amount of Taka 1,11,60,000/- within
one month from this date failing which interest at the rate of 2% per annum on the
amount of the award, or, if part payment is made, on the amount remaining unpaid
shall be charged and payable by the respondent No. 1.
If the respondent No. 1 fails to comply with the order for payment within the time
above, the amount of the award shall be realised according to law.
2. The claim of the claimant for declaration to the effect that the order of termination
of the contract between it and the respondent No. 1, by the respondent No. 1 vide its
order under Ref. TPCI/BD/PGCB(W7)KI/62 dated January 1st , 2005 is illegal and
without lawful authority, is dismissed.
3. The counter-claim of the respondent No. 1 for damages to the tune of Taka
8,25,000.00/-to be payable by the claimant, is dismissed.
4. Considering the circumstance that success is divided and other circumstances, the
claimant and the respondent No. 1 are directed to bear their respective costs of this
arbitration proceeding.
5. The proceedings as against the respondents Nos. 2 and 3 stand dismissed.
10. Against the said award, the appellant Tata Power Company Limited filed Arbitration Case No.
3 of 2006 before the High Court Division.
11. By the impugned judgment and order, the High Court Division set aside the award of damage
for the sum of Tk. 50,00,000/ under the head “land Collateral with Bank” under serial numbers 4 and
5 and upheld the remaining part of the award passed by the learned Arbitrator subject to the aforesaid
modification.
12. Against the said judgement and order dated 05.06.2007 the appellant filed Civil Petition for
Leave to Appeal No. 114 of 2008.
13. Leave was granted to consider the following grounds:
I. Whether the High Court Division acted illegally in not considering that the learned
Arbitrator passed the Award of Tk. 1,11,60,000.00 in favour of the respondent contrary to the
provisions of section 73 of the Contract Act, 1872 because the respondent having admittedly
committed breach of contract is not entitled to get any compensation and as such, the award is
clearly opposed to section 73 of the Contract Act.
II. Whether the High Court Division acted illegally in not considering that the learned
Arbitrator misconducted himself in contradicting his own finding, on the one hand holding
that the respondent breached the very important term of the contract while on the other hand
awarded an amount of Tk. 1,11,60,000.00 as compensation to the respondent who himself
was in breach of the contract in complete violation of section 73 of the Contract Act ; and
III. Whether the High Court Division acted illegally in not holding that no work under the
contract including mobilisation could be done without obtaining permission from PGCB and
no compensation is recoverable from the petitioner under the contract, the learned Arbitrator
acted beyond his jurisdiction in traveling beyond the terms of contract, inasmuch as the
learned Arbitrator having not identified any breach on the part of the petitioner, the award
was opposed to law and public policy inasmuch as the High Court Division did not
understand the true perspective of the word ‘public policy’ and its role in setting aside the
said award dated 29.08.2006.”
14. Mr. Ahsanul Karim, learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the appellant made submissions
laying forth the grounds upon which leave was granted. He further submitted that the High Court
2 SCOB [2015] AD TATA Power Company Ltd Vs M/S Dynamic Const. (Muhammad Imman Ali, J) 19
Division should have considered that the claimant having himself been in breach of contract the
learned Arbitrator completely misconceived section 73 of the Contract Act making Award of Tk.
1,11,60,000.00 in favour of the respondent. The learned Advocate also submitted that the High Court
Division erred in not considering that the learned Arbitrator misconducted himself in not properly
considering the provisions of the Contract Act and giving an award in favour of the claimant who did
not qualify to make any claim at all since there was admittedly no breach of contract by the
respondent (appellant herein). His final submission was that the learned Arbitrator acted beyond his
jurisdiction in traveling beyond the terms of contract which were fundamental in any claim based on
it. There being no breach on the part of the appellant the award was opposed to law and public policy,
inasmuch as the High Court Division did not understand the true perspective of the word ‘public
policy’ and its role in setting aside the said award dated 29.08.2006.
15. Mr. A.Y. Mosheuzzaman, learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the respondent made
submission in support of the judgement and order of the High Court Division. In addition he
submitted that the loss incurred by the respondent was due to part performance of the contract which
was instigated by the appellant in terms of the Letter of Intent dated 10 September, 2004 and Work
Order dated 28 October, 2004. It was at the behest of the appellant that the respondent mobilised
materials and equipment as instructed by the appellant and, hence, the learned Arbitrator rightly
passed an award in favour of the respondent. He further submitted that under section 43 of the
Arbitration Act, 2001 an arbitral award may be set aside only if it is opposed to the law for the time
being in force in Bangladesh or if it is in conflict with public policy in Bangladesh. He submitted that
in the instant case, since the award is neither opposed to the law nor is in conflict with public policy,
and there is no allegation that it was induced by fraud or corruption, there was no ground for the
appellant to seek an order for setting aside the award. He also submitted that the arbitration award is
not liable to be brought under scrutiny before the High Court Division since that Division does not sit
as a Court of appeal over the award of the learned Arbitrator. In support of his contention he referred
to the decision reported in the case of Shahabullah (Md.) Vs. The State reported in 43 DLR, 1. He
further submitted that the High Court Division is not at liberty to interfere with the award passed by
the learned Arbitrator other than on the grounds mentioned above (as provided under section 43 of the
Arbitration Act, 2001). He submitted that the award of the Arbitrator could not be assailed by
reassessing and reappraising evidence considered by the learned Arbitrator. In support of his
contention he referred to the decision in the case of M/s Sudarsan Trading Co., v. The Govt. of
Kerala and another reported in AIR 1989 SC, 890 and in the case of The President, Union of India
and another, v. Kalinga Construction Co. (P) Ltd. reported in AIR 1971 SC, 1646.
16. We have considered the submissions of the learned advocates appearing for the parties
concerned and perused the impugned judgement as well as other evidence and materials on record.
17. The claim of the respondent in this case, which was contested before the learned Arbitrator
appointed upon agreement of both the parties, is based on the LOI dated 10.09.2004 and a Work
Order dated 28th October, 2004 which in turn reflected the arrangement between the parties, as
contained in the Minutes of Meeting dated 5th August, 2004. In that meeting the appellant and the
respondent discussed finalisation of a contract for the construction of a 230 KV Khulna-Bheramara-
Ishurdi Transmission Line by the respondent as a sub-contractor. One of the terms agreed in that
meeting was that the work order given to the respondent would be valid only if PGCB approved the
respondent as a sub-contractor. This condition was again reflected in Column 10 of Article 8 of the
Work Order dated 28 October, 2004. It may be mentioned at this stage that the respondent admitted
that he did not take approval of the PGCB. On the other hand, the respondent based his claim for
expenditure incurred in placing materials and equipment on the site in accordance with the Letter of
Intent dated 10 September, 2004.
18. We find that the Letter of Intent (Annexure-C) contains a request by the appellant to the
respondent to accept the Letter of Intent and “arrange mobilisation of all resources based on this
LOI”. We note from the LOI also that there is a condition that the respondent was to arrange approval
from PGCB before commencement of foundation work, i.e. before 1st October, 2004. The claim of the
2 SCOB [2015] AD TATA Power Company Ltd Vs M/S Dynamic Const. (Muhammad Imman Ali, J) 20
respondent is that on the basis of the LOI and Work Order it was pressurised by the appellant into
mobilisation of materials and equipment.
19. At this juncture we note that admittedly neither any work was done nor any mobilisation
commenced before 1st November, 2004. The respondent first wrote to PGCB for approval as sub-
contractor on 4th November, 2004. In fact PGCB refused to accord approval to the respondent on
14.12.2004. It must also be borne in mind that the appellant was the contractor under PGCB and,
therefore, without the approval of the sub-contractor (respondent) by PGCB, the appellant would be
unable to complete its contract with PGCB through the engagement of the respondent.
20. However, the terms and conditions of the LOI, Work Order and Minutes of the Meeting are all
factual matters which have been dealt with by the learned Arbitrator and which in our view cannot be
within the ambits of either the High Court Division or this Division to consider. The High Court
Division rightly observed that the arbitral award is generally not open to review by Courts for any
error in finding on facts and applying law for the simple reason that it would defeat the very purpose
of the arbitration proceedings.
21. The Arbitration Act is a special law enacted with the aim of giving expeditious relief to parties
who accede to the system of arbitration agreed upon in their contract and adjudicated upon in
accordance with the Arbitration Act, 2001. Under this Act the decision of the Arbitrator making the
arbitral award is final and binding both on the parties and on any persons claiming through or under
them. Section 39 of the Act provides as follows:
""39z ®l¡uc¡c Q¨s¡¿¹ J h¡dÉLl- (1) ®L¡e p¡¢mp Q¥¢š²l d¡l¡h¡¢qLa¡u p¡¢mp£ VÊ¡Ch¤Ée¡m
LaѪL fËcš ®l¡uc¡c Q¨s¡¿¹ qCh Hhw Eq|¡ frNZ Hhw a¡q¡cl j¡dÉj h¡ Ad£e c¡h£c¡l ®k ®L¡e
hÉ¢š²l Efl h¡dÉLl qChz
(2) Ef-d¡l¡ (1)H k¡q¡ ¢L¥R¤C b¡L¥L e¡ ®Le, HC BCel ¢hd¡e Ae¤p¡l p¡¢mp£
®l¡uc¡cl ¢hl¦Ü ®L¡e hÉ¢š²l Bf¢š E›¡fel A¢dL¡l r¥æ qCh e¡z ''
22. The only ground of challenging the award is to be found section 43 of the Act, which provides
that a challenge of the arbitral award is permitted only on the grounds set out in that section. Section
43 of the Arbitration Act, 2001 has been quoted in the impugned judgement. For our purposes the
provisions relevant for the instant case are as follows:
""43z p¡¢mp£ ®l¡uc¡c h¡¢aml L¡lZpj¤q- (1) ®L¡e p¡¢mp£ ®l¡uc¡c h¡¢am Ll¡ k¡Ca
f¡l, k¢c-
………………
(M) Bc¡ma ¢Lwh¡ ®rœja, q¡CL¡VÑ ¢hi¡N HC jjÑ p¿ºø qu ®k-
(B) p¡¢mp£ ®l¡uc¡c cªn Éax h¡wm¡cn fËQ¢ma ®L¡e BCel f¢lf¿Û£ ;
(C)) p¡¢mp£ ®l¡uc¡c h¡wm¡cnl See£¢al f¢lf¿Û£; Abh¡
…………………
23. Thus, the scope of interference with the arbitral award is very limited as has been held in the
cases cited by Mr. Moshiuzzaman. Whenever an award is challenged before any Court, the Court, i.e.
either District Court or as in this case the High Court Division, does not sit on appeal over the
decision of the learned Arbitrator. Therefore, the scope of considering the merits of the case and
factual aspects is again very limited.
24. In the instant case the provisions of the Arbitration Act relevant for our purposes, as urged by
the learned Counsel for the appellant, are found in section 43 (1)(b)(ii) and(iii). In view of the above
proposition that the High Court Division does not sit on appeal over the arbitral award, the submission
of the learned Advocate for the appellant with regard to fulfillment or non-fulfillment of the terms of
the contract is somewhat redundant. The factual and contractual positions are matters for decision of
the Arbitrator and as such, unless there appears to be gross illegality, neither the High Court Division
nor this Division would enter into the merit of such arguments.
2 SCOB [2015] AD TATA Power Company Ltd Vs M/S Dynamic Const. (Muhammad Imman Ali, J) 21
25. With regard to the question of public policy, the submission of the learned Advocate for the
appellant, if we have understood correctly, is that it includes any decision by the learned Arbitrator
without following the existing law of the country or traveling beyond the terms of the contract. In the
civil petition for leave to appeal it was contended that any misinterpretation of a well settled principle
of law or leading precedent or misreading and non-consideration of evidence amount to an act against
public policy and that it means and includes also to ensure justice and rule of law.
26. The learned Judge of the High Court Division quoted the explanation in section 34 of the
Arbitration and Conciliation Act of 1996 of India (“1996 Act”) which is similar to section
43(1)(b)(iii) of our Arbitration Act, 2001, which provides that an award would be treated to be in
conflict with the public policy of India, if the making of the award was induced or affected by fraud or
corruption or was in violation of section 75 or section 81. The High Court Division then went on to
suggest what might be considered public policy, but ultimately decided that “the application of the
concept of public policy for the purpose of setting aside an award is rendered difficult.” The learned
Judge concluded that the award was not patently illegal or so unfair and unreasonable that it could be
labeled as being in conflict with public policy.
27. We also feel that a definition of public policy would make it easier to decide what would be
considered as being in conflict with public policy. In the absence of such definition, we are to rely
upon the usual meaning of the phrase ‘public policy’ which according to Black’s Law Dictionary, 18th
Edition is: “Broadly, principles and standards regarded by the legislature or by the courts as being of
fundamental concern to the state and the whole of society”. It could be said, for example, that if the
decision of the learned Arbitrator would have a negative impact on the future of international
agreements by foreign companies investing in Bangladesh, then such a decision could be terms as
being in conflict with public policy. However, in the facts of the instant case we do not consider that
the contract entered into by the parties or the award made by the learned Arbitrator has any impact on
the state and the whole of society. We also cannot agree with the submission of the learned Counsel
for the appellant that a decision contrary to the law of the country is necessarily in conflict with public
policy an envisaged by the Act, 2001. That would be an illegality pure and simple. It would be giving
too broad a meaning to the phrase ‘in conflict with public policy’ to include decisions which are
contrary to law, or where the learned Arbitrator has traveled beyond the terms of his reference, or has
misinterpreted a principle of law or precedent, or for misreading or non-consideration of evidence.
These matters can be considered as matters relating to propriety, but are not, in our view, matters
relating to public policy.
28. The appellant before us raised the issue before the High Court Division as well as before this
Division that the respondents did not fulfill their part of the contract, inasmuch as they were unable to
obtain approval from PGCB and, therefore, according to the terms of the Letter of Intent and the
Work Order they could not have commenced the mobilisation. Furthermore, it was submitted that
since there was a stipulation that the Work Order for the foundation would commence by 1st of
November, 2004, that having not been done, and the respondent having applied for approval from
PGCB on 4th of November, 2004, (page 152 of the paper book) they were already in breach of the
contract and, accordingly, the appellant rightly terminated the contract. It was pointed out by the
learned Advocate for the appellant that the learned Arbitrator found that till 12.01.2005 the claimant
could not secure the approval of the PGCB as required by the agreement. The learned Arbitrator
observed that the Claimant admitted that he could not procure the approval of the PGCB. As such, the
claimant failed to perform an important term of the contract and for this failure the respondent No. 1
(appellant herein) was entitled to terminate the contract as per the term of the contract. Accordingly,
the learned Arbitrator found that the order of termination of the contract between the parties by
respondent No. 1 (appellant herein) has been according to law and the terms of the contract. This
finding of the learned Arbitrator is not amenable to challenge before any Court.
29. On the other hand, the respondent (claimant) claimed before the learned Arbitrator as well as
before the High Court Division and this Division that it was entitled to claim damages for incurring
expenditure towards facilitating the work with which it had been entrusted under the contract and as
2 SCOB [2015] AD TATA Power Company Ltd Vs M/S Dynamic Const. (Muhammad Imman Ali, J) 22
such, mobilisation of resources for commencing the actual work, was rightly claimed. In this
connection the learned Arbitrator relied upon the decision in the case of Anglia Television Limited v
Reed reported in 3 All ER (1971) 690. The respondent relied upon this case as well as the materials
on record which tend to show that it at the insistence of the appellant that it commenced mobilisation
of equipment and materials.
30. One other point argued before us was that the respondent was required to submit a
Performance Guarantee and Bank Guarantee before the contract would take effect and that no such
guarantee was furnished. It was the claim of the respondent before the learned Arbitrator that due to
the failure of the claimant to furnish bank guarantee and to obtain approval of PGCB which were both
preconditions of the contract, there was no contract at all.
31. On this issue the learned Arbitrator observed that had there been no contract, the respondent
No. 1 (appellant herein) would not have issued the Work Order and would not have issued
instructions to the claimant to mobilise resources. The learned Arbitrator relied on the principle laid
down in the case of Anglia Television Limited v. Reed reported in 3 All ER (1971) 690 where it was
held that the claimant is entitled to recover the damage for expenditure which it claimed to have
incurred under mutual arrangement with the respondent No. 1 (appellant herein) in order to facilitate
the work under the contract.
32. The High Court Division agreed with the decision of the learned Arbitrator so far as the claim
of the respondent is concerned save and except the claim for 50,00000/- Taka in respect of “land
collateral with bank”.
33. Before the High Court Division as well as before this Division learned Counsel for the
appellant made a submission to the effect that only the person in breach of contract is liable for the
loss and damage caused by the breach of contract. He submitted that the learned Arbitrator wrongly
applied the principle of the decision in Anglia Television Limited v Reed. He pointed out that in the
case under reference the defendant entered into the contract knowing that expenditure had already
been incurred by the plaintiffs and, therefore, the defendant must have contemplated, or it was
reasonable to impute contemplation to him, that if he broke the contract the expenditure would be
wasted.
34. Let us consider Section 73 of the Contract Act which provides as follows:
“[Link] for loss or damage caused by breach of contract-when a contract has been
broken the party who suffers by such breach is entitled to receive, from the party who has broken the
contract, compensation for any loss or damage caused to him thereby which naturally arose in the
usual course of things from such breach, or which the parties knew, when they made the contract, to
be likely to result from the breach of it.
Such compensation is not to be given for any remote and indirect loss or damage sustained by
reason of the breach.”
35. Kamaluddin Hossain J. (as his Lordship was then) in Amin Jute Mills vs M/s A.R.A.E. 28
D.L.R (AD)76- referring to section 73 of the Contract Act observed as follows:
“An analysis of section shows that, when it is found that a party to a contract is in breach, he
must pay compensation for the loss or damages caused by the breach to the other contracting party.
That is the principal consideration.”
36. It was held in the case of K.M. SHAFI LIMITED V. GOVERNMENT OF BANGLADESH
AND OTHERS reported in 1983 BLD(AD)109 that in a dispute over a contract the Arbitrator is the
sole judge. Per Badrul Haider Chowdhury J. (as his Lordship was then), “Unless the award of the
Arbitrator can be assailed on one of the three grounds mentioned in section 30 of the Arbitration Act
the long line of cases show that the Court will not interfere even though courts may take a different
view of the interpretation of the particular terms of contract. This is a sound principle. Otherwise such
disputes should be brought within the jurisdiction of the civil court and thereby opening a flood gate
2 SCOB [2015] AD TATA Power Company Ltd Vs M/S Dynamic Const. (Muhammad Imman Ali, J) 23
of litigations nullifying the very spirit of the Arbitration as mentioned in the Arbitration Act” (His
Lordship was referring to Act X of 1940).
37. Learned Counsel for the appellant submitted that when the learned Arbitrator found that the
claimant (respondent herein) was himself in breach of contract and that the claimed loss and damage
was not caused by the breach of the appellant he should have held that the claim is not sustainable.
38. The provisions of section 73 of the Contract Act are quite clear, inasmuch as whenever there
is any loss or damage caused by the breach of a party to an agreement then the other party (the
innocent party) who has incurred the loss as a result of the breach is entitled to receive compensation
for any loss or damage. In other words, in the facts of the instant case, had it been found that the
appellants were in breach of contract and the respondents (claimant before the Arbitrator) had
incurred loss and damage as a result of the breach, then surely there would have been a claim by the
respondents. But in the facts of the instant case it is abundantly clear that the learned Arbitrator found
as a matter of fact that the claimant was in breach and that the termination of the contract by the
appellant was according to law and the terms of the contract. Having decided this issue against the
claimant, clearly the decision in the case of Anglia Television Limited v Reed no longer remains
applicable. The principle in the said case, i.e. the ability to claim to the extent of loss and damage
incurred before contract still stands good, but it must be subject to the provision of the Contract Act,
i.e. that the person who is in breach will be liable to make good the loss of the person who suffers as a
result of the breach. Moreover, in that case the defendant was aware at the time of entering the
contract that expenditure had already been incurred for which he would be liable in case of breach by
him.
39. We are, therefore, of the opinion that in order to be entitled to claim for a loss incurred due to
a breach of contract, the claimant must prove that the loss incurred was due to the breach of the
defendant and that the loss incurred was within the contemplation of the defendant at the time of
signing the contract.
40. Since in the facts of the instant case the finding of the learned Arbitrator was that it was the
claimant who was in breach of the contract and not the defendant, clearly the claimant does not
qualify to claim under section 73 of the Contract Act. In this regard we may refer to the decision in
the case of Bangladesh Power Development Board and others vs. M/s Arab Contractor (BD)
Limited and others, where it was held that:
“An analysis of section shows that, when it is found that a party to a contract is in breach, he
must pay compensation for the loss or damages caused by the breach to the other contracting party.
That is the principal consideration”.
41. In the instant case the clear finding being that the appellant was not in breach of the contract
and had rightly terminated the contract due to breach of the terms by the respondent, no question of
liability will arise against the appellant. This being a fundamental question of law and the learned
Arbitrator having totally overlooked the existing law on the issue, the arbitral award was rightly
challenged under section 43 (1)(b)(ii) of the Arbitration Act.
42. In view of the above discussion, we find merit in the appeal which is allowed without,
however, any order as to costs. Accordingly, the impugned judgement as well as the Award of the
learned Arbitrator are set aside.
