In this important judgment, Hon’ble Delhi High Court held that
(i) The Commercial Courts Act 2015 and Civil Procedure Code (CPC) do not contain any provision providing for different treatment for any counter-claim.
(ii) The opposite party in counter-claim, thus, gets an ‘indefeasible legal right to participate in mediation’ prior to the institution of counter-claim.
(iii) Merely because, such option was availed/ attempted to be availed in the initial stage and proved to be unsuccessful or returned non-starter, would not suggest and signify that any counter-claimant can straightaway file a commercial suit, not contemplating any urgent relief.
(iv) Process of pre-institution mediation is mandatory for every suit involving a commercial suit and no distinction can be drawn when it comes to a counter-claim involving a commercial dispute and not contemplating any urgent relief. As per the mandate of Patil Automation Pvt. Ltd. (2022) ibclaw.in 101 SC, any such suit, which has been filed without taking recourse of Section 12-A of Commercial Courts Act, needs to be rejected under Order VII Rule 11 CPC.