High Court refers Nagaland House Kolkata case to arbitration

Dimapur, May 30 (EMN): The High Court had on May 6 directed the case between the government of Nagaland (lessor) and the lessee — Civil Engineers Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. (CEEPL) — in connection with the Nagaland House in Kolkata, to be referred to arbitration and an Arbitrator appointed.

Terming it as a breakthrough in the prolonged litigation over the lease deed of the property, an update from DIPR informed that the court had rejected the CEEPL’s attempt to get a stay on Nagaland government’s suit on the ground that the High Court had got no jurisdiction to decide the matter anymore as it had been referred to arbitration.

It added that the court also rejected the CEEPL’s attempt to refer the case for mediation during the previous hearing, saying that seeking mediation was only to put the case in cold storage.

“The state government would move appropriate applications before the arbitrator for joint trial of both the cases on the ground confirmed by the High Court itself that the cases are between the same parties and the fact and law involved are the same,” read the update, adding that “the lessee did not allow the officials of the State to inspect the lease premises, nor did they furnish details of the sent deeds/taxes etc. Application has been filed in the Court for direction to the lessee to disclose these facts to ascertain whether they have sold any part of the premises”.

The update said the state of Nagaland is in a more advantageous position by virtue of High court orders and expressed hope of getting a favourable judgement. It added that counsel for the State is led by KN Balgopal, Learned Advocate General of Nagaland, and assisted by Advocates Nitya Nambiar and Vitso Rio.