Arbitral Proceeding can be initiated even after accepting payment on the preparation of the final bill

Durga Charan Rautray Vs State of Orissa & Anr. (Supreme Court of India)- The appellant, while accepting payment on the preparation of the final bill, did not undertake that he would not raise any further claims. As such, we are satisfied that the judgement rendered in Bharat Coking Coal Ltd., case (supra) leads to the irresistible conclusion, that despite receipt of payment on the preparation of the final bill, it was still open to the appellant to raise his unsatisfied claims before an arbitrator, under the contract agreement. Thirdly, it was no longer open to the respondents to contest ...