Supreme Court Appoints Justice S.C. Gupte Arbitrator In JioStar-Green Bean Dispute Over IPL Media Rights In Bangladesh

The Supreme Court has appointed former Bombay High Court judge Justice S.C. Gupte as the Sole Arbitrator to resolve a dispute between JioStar India Pvt Ltd and Green Bean Sports Marketing.

The dispute arises from an agreement under which JioStar granted Green Bean IPL media rights for the 2023-2027 seasons exclusively in Bangladesh.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana allowed the petition and appointed Justice S.C. Gupte, former Judge of the Bombay High Court, as the Sole Arbitrator. The Court fixed Mumbai as the seat and venue of arbitration.

"In view of the facts and circumstances recorded above, we deem it just and proper to allow the instant petition and appoint Justice S.C. Gupte, former Judge of the Bombay High Court, as the Sole Arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes between the parties arising out of the Media Rights Sub-License Agreement dated 30.03.2023, read with the Amendment Agreement dated 01.03.2024. The seat and venue of the arbitration, in accordance with the said agreement, shall be Mumbai, India.", the Court said.

The dispute arose from a March 30, 2023 agreement under which JioStar granted Green Bean a sub-licence for IPL media rights for the 2023-2027 seasons exclusively in Bangladesh.

The agreement was amended on March 1, 2024 and contained a cross default clause and an arbitration clause providing for a sole arbitrator under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act with Mumbai as the seat and venue.

JioStar alleged that Green Bean defaulted on payments under a separate February 7, 2023 sub-licensing agreement concerning Premier League broadcasting rights. It invoked the cross default clause, issued a termination notice and demand notice, and subsequently invoked arbitration through a notice dated December 1, 2025, proposing Advocate Mikhail Behl as arbitrator.

Green Bean did not respond, leading JioStar to approach the Supreme Court under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration Act, 1996.

Finding it fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case, the Court accordingly allowed the petition and appointed Justice Gupte as arbitrator. It ordered that the arbitrator would be at liberty to fix his own fees.

For Petitioner: Advocates Aanchal Tandon, Niti Jain, Mayank Kshirsagar, AOR