Supreme Court Refuses To Interfere In Madhya Pradesh Joint Venture Contract Dispute, Removes Rs. 1 Lakh Costs And Grants Liberty To Invoke FIDIC Gold Book Clause 20.8
The Supreme Court on September 21, 2026 dismissed the special leave petitions of a joint venture of M/s Multiurban Infra Services Private Limited and M/s Central India Engineering against the State of Madhya Pradesh, declining to interfere with the Madhya Pradesh High Court's orders, but removing the Rs. 1,00,000 costs imposed by the High Court. A Bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K. Vinod Chandran granted the parties liberty to invoke clause 20.8 of the FIDIC Gold Book, and left all legal contentions open before the appropriate forum.
Why did the High Court impose costs on a joint venture, and why did the Supreme Court lift them while still refusing relief? What does the FIDIC Gold Book route mean for a contractor who went to court instead? The order is short and gives no reasons, so this report sets out only what the record shows, and where the answers must be sought.
Case At A Glance
Case Title: Joint Venture of M/s Multiurban Infra Services Private Limited and M/s Central India Engineering vs The State of Madhya Pradesh and Others
Case Number: Special Leave Petition (C) Nos. 32813-32814 of 2026, heard with SLP (C) No. 31771 of 2026 and SLP (C) No. 30404 of 2026
Bench: Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K. Vinod Chandran
What Was Challenged: Judgment and order dated 15-07-2026 in Writ Petition No. 10715 of 2026 and order dated 11-08-2026 in Review Petition No. 1533 of 2026 of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Principal Seat at Jabalpur
Date Of Order: September 21, 2026 (Record of Proceedings, not a reasoned judgment)
Background: A Writ Petition, A Review And A Costs Order
The petitions arise from a writ petition decided by the Madhya Pradesh High Court on 15 July 2026 and a review petition decided on 11 August 2026. The High Court imposed costs of Rs. 1,00,000. The Supreme Court's record does not state the subject of the underlying dispute, the relief sought, or the High Court's reasoning, so nothing further about the merits can be reported from this order.
What The Supreme Court Ordered
The Court, after hearing counsel and perusing the record, was not inclined to interfere with the High Court's orders.
The costs of Rs. 1,00,000 imposed by the High Court are removed.
The special leave petitions are dismissed, with liberty to invoke clause 20.8 of the FIDIC Gold Book.
It is open to the parties to raise all contentions available in law before the appropriate forum.
Pending applications are disposed of.
The FIDIC Gold Book Route
The FIDIC Gold Book is the standard form of contract for Design, Build and Operate projects published by FIDIC, and its clause 20 series deals with claims and dispute resolution. The order does not say what clause 20.8 provides in this contract or which dispute it is meant for, only that the parties are free to invoke it. The practical message is that a dispute governed by a FIDIC-based contract is expected to travel through the contractual dispute mechanism, and the Supreme Court did not treat it as a matter to be resolved on special leave.
What This Means Going Forward
Three takeaways emerge. First, dismissal at the special leave stage without reasons does not lay down a precedent, and the Court kept all legal contentions open. Second, the removal of costs shows the Court found no reason to burden the joint venture further even while refusing interference. Third, contractors under FIDIC-based infrastructure contracts should check the contractual dispute clauses before choosing between writ jurisdiction and the agreed mechanism, since courts may direct them back to the contract. The record of proceedings in the PDF is marked revised and refers to clause 20.8.
Understanding dispute resolution clauses, arbitration and how to choose the right forum for contract disputes is covered in ILW's Advanced Certificate Course in Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Practice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Supreme Court decide in the Multiurban Infra and Central India Engineering joint venture case?
It dismissed the special leave petitions against the Madhya Pradesh High Court's orders, removed the Rs. 1,00,000 costs imposed by the High Court, and gave liberty to invoke clause 20.8 of the FIDIC Gold Book.
What is the FIDIC Gold Book?
It is FIDIC's standard form of contract for Design, Build and Operate projects. Its clause 20 series deals with claims and dispute resolution.
Why did the Supreme Court remove the costs imposed by the High Court?
The order does not give reasons. It simply records that, while not interfering with the High Court's orders, the Rs. 1,00,000 costs are removed.
Does dismissal of a special leave petition decide the merits of the dispute?
No. Here the Court expressly left all contentions available in law open before the appropriate forum, so the merits remain to be decided under the contractual mechanism or other competent forum.
Which High Court orders were challenged in this case?
The Madhya Pradesh High Court's judgment dated 15 July 2026 in Writ Petition No. 10715 of 2026 and its order dated 11 August 2026 in Review Petition No. 1533 of 2026.
Case Title: Joint Venture of M/s Multiurban Infra Services Private Limited and M/s Central India Engineering vs The State of Madhya Pradesh and Others
Case No.: SLP (C) Nos. 32813-32814 of 2026 (with SLP (C) No. 31771 of 2026 and SLP (C) No. 30404 of 2026) | Bench: Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K. Vinod Chandran | Date: September 21, 2026
Keywords: Multiurban Infra Services vs State of Madhya Pradesh, Central India Engineering joint venture, FIDIC Gold Book clause 20.8, Supreme Court SLP dismissed, costs removed Rs. 1 lakh, Madhya Pradesh High Court WP 10715 of 2026, FIDIC dispute resolution India, SLP (C) 32813-32814 of 2026
Read the full order: Download the Supreme Court order PDF | Source: Google Drive copy of the order
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