New Delhi

The Calcutta High Court has upheld a Rs 780 crore arbitration award in favour of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd in a significant dispute with West Bengal-based Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC). This ruling, announced on September 27, 2024, marks a crucial victory for the Anil Ambani-led firm, which reported the outcome in a stock exchange filing as detailed in a Press Trust of India report.

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Background of the Dispute

The PTI report further stated, the origins of this dispute date back more than a decade when Reliance Infrastructure secured a contract to establish a 1,200 MW thermal power plant in Purulia, West Bengal, valued at Rs 3,750 crore. However, the project faced numerous delays due to various disputes and complications, prompting DVC to seek damages from Reliance Infrastructure. In response, Reliance challenged these claims, leading to an arbitration tribunal's ruling in 2019 that ordered DVC to pay Rs 896 crore to Reliance.

Court ruling details

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DVC subsequently contested the tribunal's decision in the Calcutta High Court. The court dismissed this challenge, confirming the arbitration award. In its ruling, the Division Bench of the Hon'ble High Court noted that DVC's petition aimed at overturning the arbitration award under Section 34 was unfounded. The court upheld the award of approximately Rs 780 crore, which includes accrued interest related to the Raghunathpur Thermal Power Project.

Notably, while the court granted some relief regarding pre-award interest and adjusted the rate of interest on a bank guarantee totalling Rs 181 crore, it maintained the overall award amount. Additionally, a bank guarantee of Rs 600 crore will be released as part of this judgment.

Future steps for Reliance Infrastructure

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In light of this ruling, Reliance Infra is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of the court's judgment. The company has indicated that it will proceed based on legal counsel, either enforcing the upheld award or potentially challenging aspects of the judgment that interfere with it. This decision could have significant implications for both parties involved and may influence future contractual agreements within the sector.

As Reliance Infrastructure navigates this complex legal landscape, industry observers will be keenly watching for further developments. The outcome not only impacts the financial positions of both companies but also sets a precedent for future arbitration cases in India’s energy sector.