A recent decision of the Supreme Court, Swastik Gases v. Indian Oil
Corp. (Civil Appeal 5086 of 2013, decision dated July, 3, 2013), examines the
position of Indian law dealing with exclusive jurisdiction clauses.
Corp. (Civil Appeal 5086 of 2013, decision dated July, 3, 2013), examines the
position of Indian law dealing with exclusive jurisdiction clauses.
The Court was concerned with a case where an agreement was executed in
Kolkata, while all the other elements of the cause of action had taken place in
Jaipur. The agreement provided for
arbitration (clause 17) in accordance with the 1996 Act, without specifying any
seat. A separate jurisdiction clause (clause
18) stated, “The Agreement shall be subject to jurisdiction of the Courts at
Kolkata”. The appellant had filed a petition
u/s.11 in the Rajasthan High Court, on the basis that a substantial part of the
cause of action arose in Jaipur. The
Respondent’s resisted the jurisdiction of the Rajasthan High Court, on the
strength of clause 18.
Kolkata, while all the other elements of the cause of action had taken place in
Jaipur. The agreement provided for
arbitration (clause 17) in accordance with the 1996 Act, without specifying any
seat. A separate jurisdiction clause (clause
18) stated, “The Agreement shall be subject to jurisdiction of the Courts at
Kolkata”. The appellant had filed a petition
u/s.11 in the Rajasthan High Court, on the basis that a substantial part of the
cause of action arose in Jaipur. The
Respondent’s resisted the jurisdiction of the Rajasthan High Court, on the
strength of clause 18.
The fulcrum of the Appellant’s case was the decision in ABC Laminart v
AP Agencies (1989, Supreme Court), where the Court had held:
AP Agencies (1989, Supreme Court), where the Court had held:
“ As regards
construction of the ouster clause when words like ‘alone’, ‘only’, ‘exclusive’
and the like have been used there may be no difficulty. Even without such words
in appropriate cases the maxim ‘expressio unius est exclusio alterius’ — expression of one is the exclusion of another — may be
applied. What is an appropriate case shall depend on the facts of the case…
construction of the ouster clause when words like ‘alone’, ‘only’, ‘exclusive’
and the like have been used there may be no difficulty. Even without such words
in appropriate cases the maxim ‘expressio unius est exclusio alterius’ — expression of one is the exclusion of another — may be
applied. What is an appropriate case shall depend on the facts of the case…
If out of the
two jurisdictions one was excluded by clause 11 it would not absolutely oust
the jurisdiction of the court and, therefore, would not be void against public
policy and would not violate Sections 23 and 28 of the Contract Act. The
question then is whether it can be construed to have excluded the jurisdiction
of the court at Salem. In the clause ‘any dispute arising out of this sale
shall be subject to Kaira jurisdiction’ ex facie we do not find exclusionary
words like ‘exclusive’, ‘alone’, ‘only’ and the like. Can the maxim ‘expressio
unius est exclusio alterius’ be applied under
the facts and circumstances of the case? The order of confirmation is of no
assistance. The other general terms and conditions are also not indicative of
exclusion of other jurisdictions. Under the facts and circumstances of the case
we hold that while connecting factor with Kaira jurisdiction was ensured by
fixing the situs of the contract within Kaira, other jurisdictions having
connecting factors were not clearly, unambiguously and explicitly excluded.
That being the position it could not be said that the jurisdiction of the court
at Salem which court otherwise had jurisdiction under law through connecting
factor of delivery of goods thereat was expressly excluded……”
two jurisdictions one was excluded by clause 11 it would not absolutely oust
the jurisdiction of the court and, therefore, would not be void against public
policy and would not violate Sections 23 and 28 of the Contract Act. The
question then is whether it can be construed to have excluded the jurisdiction
of the court at Salem. In the clause ‘any dispute arising out of this sale
shall be subject to Kaira jurisdiction’ ex facie we do not find exclusionary
words like ‘exclusive’, ‘alone’, ‘only’ and the like. Can the maxim ‘expressio
unius est exclusio alterius’ be applied under
the facts and circumstances of the case? The order of confirmation is of no
assistance. The other general terms and conditions are also not indicative of
exclusion of other jurisdictions. Under the facts and circumstances of the case
we hold that while connecting factor with Kaira jurisdiction was ensured by
fixing the situs of the contract within Kaira, other jurisdictions having
connecting factors were not clearly, unambiguously and explicitly excluded.
That being the position it could not be said that the jurisdiction of the court
at Salem which court otherwise had jurisdiction under law through connecting
factor of delivery of goods thereat was expressly excluded……”
The extracts above would indicate that ABC Laminart did not absolutely
rule out an ouster of jurisdiction in the absence of express words like ‘alone’
or ‘only’. In RSDV Finance v. Vallabh
Glass Works (1993 SC), the Supreme Court held, purporting to rely on ABC
Laminart:
rule out an ouster of jurisdiction in the absence of express words like ‘alone’
or ‘only’. In RSDV Finance v. Vallabh
Glass Works (1993 SC), the Supreme Court held, purporting to rely on ABC
Laminart:
“The
endorsement ‘Subject to Anand jurisdiction’ does not contain the ouster clause
using the words like ‘alone’, ‘only’, ‘exclusive’ and the like. Thus the maxim
‘expressio
unius est exclusio alterius’ cannot be
applied under the facts and circumstances of the case and it cannot be held
that merely because the deposit receipt contained the endorsement ‘Subject to
Anand jurisdiction’ it excluded the jurisdiction of all other courts who were
otherwise competent to entertain the suit.”
endorsement ‘Subject to Anand jurisdiction’ does not contain the ouster clause
using the words like ‘alone’, ‘only’, ‘exclusive’ and the like. Thus the maxim
‘expressio
unius est exclusio alterius’ cannot be
applied under the facts and circumstances of the case and it cannot be held
that merely because the deposit receipt contained the endorsement ‘Subject to
Anand jurisdiction’ it excluded the jurisdiction of all other courts who were
otherwise competent to entertain the suit.”
The Supreme Court in Swastik Gases considered these, and several other
cases, and held (per Lodha J; Kurian Joseph J agreeing with the judgment of Lodha
J)
cases, and held (per Lodha J; Kurian Joseph J agreeing with the judgment of Lodha
J)
“It is a fact that whilst providing for
jurisdiction clause in the agreement the words like ‘alone’, ‘only’,
‘exclusive’ or ‘exclusive jurisdiction’ have not been used but this, in our
view, is not decisive and does not make any material difference. The intention
of the parties – by having clause 18 in the agreement – is clear and
unambiguous that the courts at Kolkata shall have jurisdiction which means that
the courts at Kolkata alone shall have jurisdiction. It is so because for
construction of jurisdiction clause, like clause 18 in the agreement, the maxim
expressio unius est exclusio alterius comes into play as there is nothing
to indicate to the contrary. This legal maxim means that expression of one is
the exclusion of another. By making a provision that the agreement is subject to
the jurisdiction of the courts at Kolkata, the parties have impliedly excluded
the jurisdiction of other courts. Where the contract specifies the jurisdiction
of the courts at a particular place and such courts have jurisdiction to deal
with the matter, we think that an inference may be drawn that parties intended
to exclude all other courts.”
jurisdiction clause in the agreement the words like ‘alone’, ‘only’,
‘exclusive’ or ‘exclusive jurisdiction’ have not been used but this, in our
view, is not decisive and does not make any material difference. The intention
of the parties – by having clause 18 in the agreement – is clear and
unambiguous that the courts at Kolkata shall have jurisdiction which means that
the courts at Kolkata alone shall have jurisdiction. It is so because for
construction of jurisdiction clause, like clause 18 in the agreement, the maxim
expressio unius est exclusio alterius comes into play as there is nothing
to indicate to the contrary. This legal maxim means that expression of one is
the exclusion of another. By making a provision that the agreement is subject to
the jurisdiction of the courts at Kolkata, the parties have impliedly excluded
the jurisdiction of other courts. Where the contract specifies the jurisdiction
of the courts at a particular place and such courts have jurisdiction to deal
with the matter, we think that an inference may be drawn that parties intended
to exclude all other courts.”
Accordingly, the appeal was dismissed.
The Court thus seems to have affirmed that the choice of one of two
jurisdictions is sufficient to (at least) raise a presumption as to valid
ouster of the jurisdiction, even in the absence of specific exclusionary words. (Lokur J. delivered a separate concurring
judgment, also separately analyzing the case law. Lokur J, conclusion was: “The absence of words like “alone”,
“only”, “exclusive” or “exclusive jurisdiction” is neither decisive nor does it
make any material difference in deciding the jurisdiction of a court. The very
existence of a jurisdiction clause in an agreement makes the intention of the
parties to an agreement quite clear and it is not advisable to read such a
clause in the agreement like a statute.”)
The Court thus seems to have affirmed that the choice of one of two
jurisdictions is sufficient to (at least) raise a presumption as to valid
ouster of the jurisdiction, even in the absence of specific exclusionary words. (Lokur J. delivered a separate concurring
judgment, also separately analyzing the case law. Lokur J, conclusion was: “The absence of words like “alone”,
“only”, “exclusive” or “exclusive jurisdiction” is neither decisive nor does it
make any material difference in deciding the jurisdiction of a court. The very
existence of a jurisdiction clause in an agreement makes the intention of the
parties to an agreement quite clear and it is not advisable to read such a
clause in the agreement like a statute.”)