SC withdraws order naming James Spigelman as third arbitrator in RIL-government arbitration on KG basin

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday recalled an order passed on Monday naming Australian judge James Spigelman as the third arbitrator to head the arbitration proceedings in the government-RIL row over the KG basin gas fields.

Justice S S Nijjar withdrew the order after the government counsel Dushyant Dave pointed out that Spigelman figured in the list of seven preferred arbitrators handed out by RIL to the top court. The government had also handed over its list after the two former CJIs named by the government and Reliance as their nominees could not agree on a third name.

Reliance counsel Harsh Salve did not object to recall of the order.

"Although two lists have been duly supplied by the learned counsel for the parties, I am of the opinion, in the peculiar facts and circumstances of this case, it would be appropriate if an individual not named by any of the parties is appointed as the third arbitrator. I have discretely conducted a survey to find a suitable third arbitrator who is not a National of any of the parties involved in the dispute," Justice Nijjar had said.

Justice Nijjar will now appoint another name in place of Spigelman to head the arbitral panel.

On the government's request, the court also left it to the arbitral panel to identify issues to be dealt with during arbitration.


(With inputs from PTI)