Abdul Moin, J. - (1.) Heard Sri G.C. Sinha, learned counsel for the applicant and Sri S.M. Singh Royekwar, learned counsel appearing for the opposite parties.
(2.) By means of the present application, the applicant has prayed for appointment of an Arbitrator to settle the dispute between the parties as referred to in the request letter dated 10.10.2017, a copy of which is Annexure-4 to the application.
(3.) The case set forth by the applicant is that the grandfather of the applicant had started the retail sale of petrol and petroleum products in Lucknow about 100 years back. The licence for dealing with the business was granted to the grandfather of the applicant and thereafter to the father of the applicant under the Indian Petroleum Act which was renewed from time to time. Earlier, the grandfather of the applicant was selling the petrol and petroleum products of the then company known as 'Burma Shell' and in the year 1969-71, the Government of India had taken over the entire business of petroleum products and established its own companies to run the business and consequent thereto the business of Burma Shell came under the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited i.e. the respondents (hereinafter referred to as the Corporation).It is also contended that the Corporation renewed the earlier licence and named it as 'Dispensing Pump and Selling Licence'. The licence given to the father of the applicant by the Corporation was renewed from time to time, last renewal having been done w.e.f. 4.6.2005 vide agreement dated 10.7.2008 for a period of 15 years as given to the firm namely M/s Sheo Narayan & Sons in which the applicant is a working partner. Copy of the licence/agreement is Annexure-1 to the application.;