SETTING ASIDE ARBITRAL AWARD: CONTEMPORARY SCENARIO IN INDIA

Introduction

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Arbitration is a process of dispute resolution between the parties through arbitral tribunal appointed by parties to the dispute or by the Court at the request by a party. In other words, it is an alternative to litigation as a method of dispute resolution. The law relating to arbitration n India is based on the English Arbitration Law. In 1940 the Indian Law on arbitration was drafted in the form of?Arbitration Act, 1940?and remained in force until it was replaced by the new?Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.

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The Indian arbitration law is based on the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL Model Law). The law of arbitration is based on the principle of withdrawing the dispute from the ordinary court and enabling the parties to substitute a domestic tribunal consisting persons of their own choice called as arbitrators. The Parliament enacted the?Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996?which not only removed many serious defects of the earlier arbitration law but also incorporated modern concepts of arbitration which are internationally accepted. The arbitral award has been treated at par with the decree of the Court. The arbitral award is enforceable in the same manner as a decree of a law court. This change has enabled the reduction of litigation in some areas of arbitration. Earlier an award could not be executed in its own right unless the court ordered that award is filed and a decree issued in terms thereof.

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There is no provision for appeal against an arbitral award and it is final and binding between the parties. However, an aggrieved party may take recourse to law court for setting aside the arbitration award on certain grounds specified in?Section 34?of the?Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.

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Setting Aside Arbitral Award

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The parties cannot appeal against an arbitral award as to its merits and the court cannot interfere on its merits. The Supreme Court has observed “an arbitrator is a judge appointed by the parties and as such an award passed by him is not to be lightly interfered with.” But this does not mean that there is no check on the arbitrator’s conduct. In order to assure proper conduct of the proceeding, the law allows certain remedies against an award.

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Under the repealed 1940 Act three remedies were available against an award- modification, remission and setting aside. These remedies have been put under the 1996 Act into two groups. To the extent to which the remedy was for rectification of errors, it has been handed over to the parties and the Tribunal. The remedy for setting aside has been moulded with returning back the award to the Tribunal for removal of defects.

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Section 34[1]?provides that an arbitral award may be set aside by a court on certain grounds specified therein. These grounds are:

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1.????????????Incapacity of a party

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2.????????????Arbitration agreement not being valid

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3.????????????Party not given proper notice of arbitral proceedings

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4.????????????Nature of dispute not falling within the terms of submission to arbitration

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5.????????????Arbitral procedure not being in accordance with the agreement

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Section 34(2)(b)[2]?mentions two more grounds which are left with the Court itself to decide whether to set aside the arbitral award:

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1.????????????Dispute is not capable of settlement by arbitral process

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2.????????????The award is in conflict with the public policy of India

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If the decision on matters submitted to arbitration can be separated from those not submitted; only that part of the arbitral award which contains decisions on matters not submitted to arbitration may be set aside.

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Section 34[3]?of the Act is based on?Article 34[4]?of the UNCITRAL Model Law and the scope of the provisions for setting aside the award is far less than it was under the?Sections 30[5]?or?33[6]?of the 1940 Act. In?Municipal Corp. of Greater Mumbai v. Prestress Products (India)[7], the court held that the new Act was brought into being with the express Parliamentary objective of curtailing judicial intervention.?Section 34[8]?significantly reduces the extent of possible challenge to an award.

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It is necessary for the aggrieved party to make an application under?Section 34[9]?stating the grounds of challenge. An application for setting aside the award has to be made by a party to the arbitration agreement. But a legal representative can apply for it because he is a person claiming under them. There is no special form prescribed for making an application under?Section 34[10]?of the act except it has to be a written statement filed within the period of limitation.

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In?Sanshin Chemical Industry v. Oriental Carbons & Chemical Ltd[11], there arose a dispute between the parties regarding the decision of the Joint Arbitration Committee relating to venue of arbitration. The Apex Court held that a decision on the question of venue will not be either an award or an interim award so as to be appealable under?Section 34[12]?of the act.

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In?Brijendra Nath v. Mayank[13], the court held that where the parties have acted upon the arbitral award during the pendency of the application challenging its validity, it would amount to estoppel against attacking the award.

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An award which is set aside is no longer remains enforceable by law. The parties are restored to their former position as to their claims in the dispute. Setting aside an award means that it is rejected as invalid. The award is avoided and the matter becomes open for decision again. The parties become free to go back to arbitration or to have the matter decided through court.

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INCAPACITY OF PARTIES

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If a party to the arbitration is not capable of looking after his own interests, and he is not represented by a person who can protect his interests, the award will not be binding on him and may be set aside on his application.

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If a minor or a person of unsound mind is a party he must be properly represented by a proper guardian otherwise the award would be liable to be set aside. Such a person is not capable of binding himself by a contract and therefore, an award under a contract does not bind him.

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Section 9[14] of the 1996 Act enables him to apply to the court for appointment of a guardian for a minor or a person of unsound mind for the purpose of arbitral proceedings. The ground of incapacity would cease to be available when the incompetent person is represented by a guardian.

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INVALIDITY OF AGREEMENT

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The validity of an agreement can be challenged on any of the grounds on which the validity of a contract may be challenged. In cases where the arbitration clause is contained in a contract, the arbitration clause will be invalid if the contract is invalid.

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In?State of U.P. v. Allied Constructions[15] the court held that the validity of an agreement has to be tested on the basis of law to which the parties have subjected it. Where there is no such indication, the validity would be examined according to the law which is in force.

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NOTICE NOT GIVEN TO PARTIES

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Section 34(2)(a)(iii)[16]?permits challenge to an award if the party was not given proper notice of the appointment of an arbitrator, or the party was not given proper notice of the arbitral proceedings, or the party was for some reasons unable to present his case.

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Under?Section 23(1)[17]?the Arbitral Tribunal has to determine the time within which the statements must be filed. This determination must be communicated to the parties by a proper notice.?Section 24(2)[18]?mandates that the parties shall be given sufficient advance notice of any hearing or meeting of the Tribunal for the purpose of inspection of documents, goods or other property.

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If for any good reason a party is prevented from appearing and presenting his case before the Tribunal, the award will be liable to be set aside as the party will be deemed to have been deprived of an opportunity of being heard the principle of natural justice.

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In?Dulal Podda v. Executive Engineer, Dona Canal Division[19], the court held that appointment of an arbitrator at the behest of the appellant without sending notice to the respondent, ex parte award given by the arbitrator was illegal and liable to be set aside.

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In?Vijay Kumar v. Bathinda Central Co-operative Bank and ors[20]. the court observed “it is a typical case where the arbitrator misconducted the proceedings and also misconducted himself. Arbitrator held the first and only hearing on May 17, 2010. No points for settlement or issues were framed. The bank filed affidavits of four employees. Appellant was not given the opportunity to cross-examine them. He was denied the opportunity to produce evidence. A complete go bye was given to the provisions of law, procedure and rules of justice. It would thus be seen that appellant was unable to present his case.

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AWARD BEYOND SCOPE OF REFERENCE

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The reference of a dispute under an agreement defines the limits of the authority and jurisdiction of the arbitrator. If the arbitrator had assumed jurisdiction not possessed by him, the award to the extent to which it is beyond the arbitrator’s jurisdiction would be invalid and liable to be set aside.

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Section 34(2)(a)(iv)[21]?of the Act provides that an arbitral award is liable to be set aside if it deals with a dispute not contemplated by the reference, or not falling within the terms of the reference, or it contains a decision in matters beyond the reference.

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In?Gautam Construction & Fisherie Ltd v. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development[22], the Supreme Court modified the award to the extent that the rate of construction meant for ground floor could not be applied to the construction of the basement area.

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In?Rajinder Kishan Kumar v. Union of India[23], a matter under a writ petition was referred to arbitration. The writ petition contained no claim of compensation for damage to potentiality of the land because of the opposing party discharging effluents and slurry on the land. The award of such compensation was held to be outside the scope of reference hence liable to be set aside.

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Section 16[24]?of the?Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996?provides that the initial decision as to jurisdiction lies with the Tribunal. The party should immediately object as to excess of jurisdiction. If the Tribunal rejects the objection, the aggrieved party may apply under?Section 34(2)(a)(iv)[25]?for setting aside on the ground of excess of jurisdiction.

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An arbitrator cannot go contrary to the terms of the contract. Where the terms of the contract are not clear or unambiguous, the arbitrator gets the power to interpret them. In?State of Rajasthan v. Nav Bharat Construction Co[26]., a majority of claims allowed were against the terms of the contract.

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ILLEGALITY IN ARBITRAL PROCEDURE

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Section 34(2)(a)(v)[27]?provide that an award can be challenged if the composition of the Tribunal was not in accordance with the agreement, or the procedure agreed to by the parties was not followed in the conduct of proceedings, or in the absence of agreement as to procedure, the procedure prescribed by the Act was not followed.

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Failure to follow the agreed procedure or the procedure prescribed by the Act is procedural misconduct. If the arbitral tribunal takes the matter which is clearly beyond the scope of its authority, it would tantamount to misconduct of arbitrator. An award in which the arbitrator has deliberately deviated from the terms of reference and arbitration agreement will amount to misconduct of the arbitrator.

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Section 12(3)(a)[28]?provides that an arbitrator may be challenged if there justifiable doubt as to his independence or impartiality.?Section 13[29]?says that if the challenge is not successful and the award is made, the party challenging the arbitrator may apply to the court under?Section 34[30]?for setting aside the award.

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In?State Trading Corp. v. Molasses Co., the Bengal Chamber of Commerce[31], a permanent arbitral institution, did not allow a company to be represented by its Law Officer, who was full time employee of the company. The Court held that it was not only misconduct of the arbitrator but also misconduct of the arbitration proceedings.

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As discussed earlier in?Bathinda Central Co-operative Bank’s Case[32] the court observed “it is a typical case where the arbitrator misconducted the proceedings and also misconducted himself. A complete go bye was given to the provisions of law, procedure and rules of justice.

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In?ONGC Ltd v. Saw Pipe Ltd[33], the Supreme Court held that in exercising jurisdiction, the Arbitral Tribunal cannot act in breach of some provisions of substantive law or the provision of the Act. In?Section 34(2)(a)(v)[34]?of the Act, the composition of the Arbitral Tribunal should be in accordance with the agreement. The procedure which is required to be followed by the arbitrator should also be accordance with the agreement. If there is no such agreement then it should be in accordance with the procedure prescribed in Part 1 of the Act.

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In the above case, the losses caused by delay were deducted from the supplier’s bill. The direction of the Arbitral Tribunal that such deduction should be refunded with interest was held to be neither in accordance with law, nor contract. The award was set aside to that extent.

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In?Union of India v. Om Prakash Baldev Krishna[35] it was held that a non-reasoned award is liable to be set aside by the court as contemplated by Section 31(3)[36]?which requires that arbitral award shall State reasons upon which it is based unless the parties have mutually agreed that no reasons are to be given.

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Some other examples of misconduct of proceedings are proceeding ex parte without sufficient cause; denial of opportunity to parties; acting against the mandate given to the arbitrator under the agreement; failure or refusal to consider counter-claim of the respondent etc.

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DISPUTE NOT ARBITRABLE

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The existence of an arbitral dispute is a condition precedent for exercise of power by an arbitrator.

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Only matters of indifference between the parties to litigation which affect their private rights can be referred to arbitration.

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Therefore, matters of criminal nature, insolvency proceedings, and matters of public rights cannot be decided by arbitration.

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The Delhi High Court, held in?PNB Finance ltd v. Shital Prasad Jain[37], that specific performance of an act cannot be granted in an arbitration proceeding. The Supreme Court did not approve the view point of the Delhi High Court.?The Court held that the right to specific performance of an agreement of sale deals with contractual rights and it is certainly open to the parties to agree to refer the issue relating to specific performance to arbitration.

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AWARD AGAINST PUBLIC POLICY

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Section 34(2)(b)(ii)[38]?provides that an application for setting aside an arbitral award can be made if the arbitral award is in conflict with the public policy of India.

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The explanation to clause (b) clarifies that an award obtained by fraud or corruption would also be an award against the public policy of India. An award obtained by suppressing facts, by misleading or deceiving the arbitrator, by bribing the arbitrator, by exerting pressure on the arbitrator, etc. would be liable to be set aside.

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The concept of public policy connotes some matter which concerns public good and public interest.

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In?Venture Global Engg v. Satyam Computer Service Ltd[39], it was held that an award could be set aside if it is contrary to fundamental policy of Indian law, or the interest of India, or justice or morality, or it is patently illegal.

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If the award is contrary to the substantive provisions of law or the provisions of the Act or against the terms of the contract, it would be patently illegal, which could be interfered under Section 34[40]. Award could also be set aside if it is as unfair and unreasonable as to shock the conscience of the court as it is against public policy.

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Limitation For Filing Application

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Section 34(3)[41]?provides that an application for setting aside an arbitral award must be made within 3 months of receiving the award or disposition of application by the arbitral tribunal.

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The importance of this is emphasized by?Section 36[42]?which provides that the award becomes enforceable as soon as the limitation period under Section 34 expires.

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The proviso to?Section 34(3)[43] allows the party a further period of 30 days after the expiry of three months if the court is satisfied that the party was prevented by a sufficient cause from making the application. No application for setting aside the award can be entertained by the court after the expiry of these additional thirty days.

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In?National Aluminum Co Ltd v. Presteel Fabrication (P) Ltd[44], proceedings were instituted before the Supreme Court under the wrong belief that it had jurisdiction in the matter of setting aside. Time spent on a bona fide prosecution of an application in a wrong forum was held by the Supreme Court to be a sufficient cause for condonation of delay.

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In?Union of India v. Shring Construction Co (P) Ltd[45], sometime was lost in challenging the award in a writ court which was declared to be not maintainable because the petitioner had his remedy under?Section 34[46]?by the proceeding before the District Judge. The District Judge was then approached along with an application for condonation of delay. He rejected it as time barred.?The Supreme Court held that the District Judge should have decided whether the application was within time after excluding the period lost in a wrong court.

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In?Union of India v. Microwave Communication Ltd[47] the Delhi High Court noted that, in contradiction with?Section 5[48], Section 4[49]?“does not enlarge the period of limitation but it only enables the party to file any suit, application, etc. on the reopening day of the Court if the Court is closed on a day when limitation expires.” As there was no overlap of any sort between?Section 4[50]?and?Section 34(3)[51]?the Court held that Section 4 would apply in cases where there was not any lack of due diligence on the part of the applicant. Interestingly, the Court also held that?S. 4[52]?was applicable even to situations where the proviso to?Section 34(3)[53]?was attracted – i.e., the thirty day condonation period.

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A bare reading of?Section 34(3)[54]?read with the proviso makes it abundantly clear that the application for setting aside the award will have to be made within three months. The period can further be extended, on sufficient cause being shown, by another period of thirty days but not thereafter.?Section 29 (2)[55] of the Limitation Act, provides that when any special statute prescribes certain period of limitation as well as provision for extension upto specified time limit, on sufficient cause being shown, then the period of limitation prescribed under the special law shall prevail and to that extent the provisions of the Limitation Act shall stand excluded. The provisions of?Section 5[56]?of the Limitation Act would not be applicable because of the provisions of?Section 29 (2)[57]?of the Limitation Act.

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Remission By Tribunal

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When an application for setting aside an arbitral award has been made, the court may, instead of adjudicating upon the grounds raised, adjourn the proceedings for a determined period of time to enable the tribunal to deal with the grounds on which objection have been raised and to eliminate them.

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In?T.N. Electricity Board v. Bridge Tunnel Constructions[58], the court held that where an award is vitiated by an error of jurisdiction, the court can send it back to the arbitrator for rectification of the error.

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Upon such adjournment the Arbitral Tribunal shall resume the arbitral proceedings and take such action as will eliminate the grounds. The resumed proceedings can only be relating to the grounds raised in the application under?Section 34[59].

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It may become necessary to record fresh findings and to amend the award. Thereafter the court would consider whether the grounds raised have been eliminated and whether the award is liable to be set aside.

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Foreign Awards

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The grounds to challenge of awards given in Part I (section 34)[60] of the Indian Arbitration Act are applicable only to Domestic Awards and not to Foreign Awards. On September 6, 2012,?Supreme?Court?in?Bharat Aluminum Co. v. Kaiser Aluminium Technical Service Inc.[61] reconsidering its previous decisions concluded that the Indian Arbitration Act should be interpreted in a manner to give effect to the intent of Indian Parliament. In this case the Court reversed its earlier rulings in cases of?Bhatia International v. Bulk Trading S.A. & Anr.[62]?and?Venture Global Engg v Satyam Computer Services Ltd & Anr.[63] stating that findings in these judgments were incorrect. Part I of the Indian Arbitration Act has no application to arbitrations seated outside India irrespective of whether parties chose to apply the Indian Arbitration Act or not. Most importantly, these findings of the Supreme Court are applicable only to arbitration agreements executed after 6 September 2012. Thus all disputes pursuant to arbitration agreement entered into upto 6 September 2012 shall be decided by old precedents irrespective of fact that according to the Supreme Court such rulings were incorrect and have been reversed.

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Conclusively, we see that the law relating to setting aside of arbitral award in India is consonance with the UNCITRAL model law as the national law is based on the same only. However, the interpretation of the Supreme Court in several decisions like Bhatia International have raised serious issues which to some extent have been resolved in the BAL Co case. The judicial intervention should be minimal and this practice has to be promoted in India so that arbitration may be successful

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[1] Application for setting aside arbitral award. —

(1)??????????Recourse to a Court against an arbitral award may be made only by an application for setting aside such award in accordance with sub-section (2) and sub-section (3).

(2)??????????An arbitral award may be set aside by the Court only if—

(a)??????????the party making the application furnishes proof that—

(i)????????????a party was under some incapacity, or

(ii)??????????the arbitration agreement is not valid under the law to which the parties have subjected it or, failing any indication thereon, under the law for the time being in force; or

(iii)?????????the party making the application was not given proper notice of the appointment of an arbitrator or of the arbitral proceedings or was otherwise unable to present his case; or

(iv)????????the arbitral award deals with a dispute not contemplated by or not falling within the terms of the submission to arbitration, or it contains decisions on matters beyond the scope of the submission to arbitration:

Provided that, if the decisions on matters submitted to arbitration can be separated from those not so submitted, only that part of the arbitral award which contains decisions on matters not submitted to arbitration may be set aside; or

(v)??????????the composition of the arbitral tribunal or the arbitral procedure was not in accordance with the agreement of the parties, unless such agreement was in conflict with a provision of this Part from which the parties cannot derogate, or, failing such agreement, was not in accordance with this Part; or

(b)?????????the Court finds that—

(i)????????????the subject-matter of the dispute is not capable of settlement by arbitration under the law for the time being in force, or

(ii)??????????the arbitral award is in conflict with the public policy of India.

Explanation. —Without prejudice to the generality of sub-clause (ii) it is hereby declared, for the avoidance of any doubt, that an award is in conflict with the public policy of India if the making of the award was induced or affected by fraud or corruption or was in violation of section 75 or section 81.

(3)??????????An application for setting aside may not be made after three months have elapsed from the date on which the party making that application had received the arbitral award or, if a request had been made under section 33, from the date on which that request had been disposed of by the arbitral tribunal: Provided that if the Court is satisfied that the applicant was prevented by sufficient cause from making the application within the said period of three months it may entertain the application within a further period of thirty days, but not thereafter.

(4)??????????On receipt of an application under sub-section (1), the Court may, where it is appropriate and it is so requested by a party, adjourn the proceedings for a period of time determined by it in order to give the arbitral tribunal an opportunity to resume the arbitral proceedings or to take such other action as in the opinion of arbitral tribunal will eliminate the grounds for setting aside the arbitral award.

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[2] Supra n 1

[3] Supra n 1

[4] Application for setting aside as exclusive recourse against arbitral award

1.?????????????Recourse to a court against an arbitral award may be made only by an application for setting aside in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3) of this article.

2.?????????????An arbitral award may be set aside by the court specified in article 6 only if:

(a)??????????the party making the application furnishes proof that:

(i)????????????a party to the arbitration agreement referred to in article 7 was under some incapacity; or the said agreement is not valid under the law to which the parties have subjected it or, failing any indication thereon, under the law of this State; or

(ii)??????????the party making the application was not given proper notice of the appointment of an arbitrator or of the arbitral proceedings or was otherwise unable to present his case; or

(iii)?????????the award deals with a dispute not contemplated by or not falling within the terms of the submission to arbitration, or contains decisions on matters beyond the scope of the submission to arbitration, provided that, if the decisions on matters submitted to arbitration can be separated from those not so submitted, only that part of the award which contains decisions on matters not submitted to arbitration may be set aside; or

(iv)????????the composition of the arbitral tribunal or the arbitral procedure was not in accordance with the agreement of the parties, unless such agreement was in conflict with a provision of this Law from which the parties cannot derogate, or, failing such agreement, was not in accordance with this Law; or

(b)?????????the court finds that:

(i)????????????the subject-matter of the dispute is not capable of settlement by arbitration under the law of this State; or

(ii)??????????the award is in conflict with the public policy of this State.

3.?????????????An application for setting aside may not be made after three months have elapsed from the date on which the party making that application had received that award or, if a request had been made under article 33, from the date on which that request had been disposed of by the arbitral tribunal.

4.?????????????The court, when asked to set aside an award, may, where appropriate and so requested by a party, suspend the setting aside proceedings for a period of time determined by it in order to give the arbitral tribunal an opportunity to resume the arbitral proceedings or to take such other action as in the arbitral tribunal's opinion will eliminate the grounds for setting aside.

[5] Grounds for setting aside award. An award shall not be set aside except on one or more of the following grounds, namely:-

(a)??????????that an arbitrator or umpire has misconducted himself or the proceedings

(b)?????????that an award has been made after the issue of an order by the Court superseding the arbitration or after arbitration proceedings have become invalid under section 35;

(c)??????????that an award has been improperly procured or is other- wise invalid.

[6] Arbitration agreement or award to be contested by application. Any party to an arbitration agreement or any person claiming under him desiring to challenge the existence or validity of an arbitration agreement or an award or to have the effect of either determined shall apply to the Court and the Court shall decide the question on affidavits: Provided that where the Court deems it just and expedient, it may set down the application for hearing on other evidence also, and it may pass such orders for discovery and particulars as it may do in a suit.

[7] (2003) 4 RAJ 363 (Bom)

[8] Supra n 1

[9] Supra n 1

[10] Supra n 1

[11] AIR 2001 SC 1219

[12] Supra n 1

[13] AIR 1994 SC 2562

[14] Interim measures, etc. by Court.—A party may, before or during arbitral proceedings or at any time after the making of the arbitral award but before it is enforced in accordance with section 36, apply to a court—

(i)????????????for the appointment of a guardian for a minor or a person of unsound mind for the purposes of arbitral proceedings; or

(ii)??????????for an interim measure of protection in respect of any of the following matters, namely:—

(a)??????????the preservation, interim custody or sale of any goods which are the subject-matter of the arbitration agreement;

(b)?????????securing the amount in dispute in the arbitration;

(c)??????????the detention, preservation or inspection of any property or thing which is the subject-matter of the dispute in arbitration, or as to which any question may arise therein and authorising for any of the aforesaid purposes any person to enter upon any land or building in the possession of any party, or authorising any samples to be taken or any observation to be made, or experiment to be tried, which may be necessary or expedient for the purpose of obtaining full information or evidence;

(d)?????????interim injunction or the appointment of a receiver;

(e)?????????such other interim measure of protection as may appear to the court to be just and convenient, and the Court shall have the same power for making orders as it has for the purpose of, and in relation to, any proceedings before it.

[15] (2003) 7 SCC 396

[16] Supra N. 1

[17]Within the period of time agreed upon by the parties or determined by the arbitral tribunal, the claimant shall state the facts supporting his claim, the points at issue and the relief or remedy sought, and the respondent shall state his defence in respect of these particulars, unless the parties have otherwise agreed as to the required elements of those statements.

[18] The parties shall be given sufficient advance notice of any hearing and of any meeting of the arbitral tribunal for the purposes of inspection of documents, goods or other property

[19] (2004) 1 SCC 73

[20] IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH, FAO No.2161 of 2012, FAO No.2894 of 2012 FAO No.2970-3085 of 2012, FAO No 3095 of 2012, FAO No.3248-49 of 2012, FAO No.3792-97 of 2012,FAO No.3849 of 2012, FAO No.4050 of 2012, Date of Decision : 8.5.2013        

[21] Supra N. 1

[22] AIR 2000 SC 3018

[23] AIR 1999 SC 463

[24] Competence of arbitral tribunal to rule on its jurisdiction.—

(1)??????????The arbitral tribunal may rule on its own jurisdiction, including ruling on any objections with respect to the existence or validity of the arbitration agreement, and for that purpose,—

(a)??????????an arbitration clause which forms part of a contract shall be treated as an agreement independent of the other terms of the contract; and

(b)?????????a decision by the arbitral tribunal that the contract is null and void shall not entail ipso jure the invalidity of the arbitration clause.

(2)??????????A plea that the arbitral tribunal does not have jurisdiction shall be raised not later than the submission of the statement of defence; however, a party shall not be precluded from raising such a plea merely because that he has appointed, or participated in the appointment of, an arbitrator.

(3)??????????A plea that the arbitral tribunal is exceeding the scope of its authority shall be raised as soon as the matter alleged to be beyond the scope of its authority is raised during the arbitral proceedings.

(4)??????????The arbitral tribunal may, in either of the cases referred to in sub-section (2) or sub-section (3), admit a later plea if it considers the delay justified.

(5)??????????The arbitral tribunal shall decide on a plea referred to in sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) and, where the arbitral tribunal takes a decision rejecting the plea, continue with the arbitral proceedings and make an arbitral award.

(6)??????????A party aggrieved by such an arbitral award may make an application for setting aside such an arbitral award in accordance with section 34.

[25] Supra N. 1

[26] AIR 2005 SC 4430

[27] Supra N. 1

[28] ?An arbitrator may be challenged only if—

(a)??????????circumstances exist that give rise to justifiable doubts as to his independence or impartiality, or

(b)?????????he does not possess the qualifications agreed to by the parties.

[29] Challenge procedure.—

(1)??????????Subject to sub-section (4), the parties are free to agree on a procedure for challenging an arbitrator.

(2)??????????Failing any agreement referred to in sub-section (1), a party who intends to challenge an arbitrator shall, within fifteen days after becoming aware of the constitution of the arbitral tribunal or after becoming aware of any circumstances referred to in sub-section (3) of section 12, send a written statement of the reasons for the challenge to the arbitral tribunal.

(3)??????????Unless the arbitrator challenged under sub-section (2) withdraws from his office or the other party agrees to the challenge, the arbitral tribunal shall decide on the challenge.

(4)??????????If a challenge under any procedure agreed upon by the parties or under the procedure under sub-section (2) is not successful, the arbitral tribunal shall continue the arbitral proceedings and make an arbitral award.

(5)??????????Where an arbitral award is made under sub-section (4), the party challenging the arbitrator may make an application for setting aside such an arbitral award in accordance with section 34.

(6)??????????Where an arbitral award is set aside on an application made under sub-section (5), the Court may decide as to whether the arbitrator who is challenged is entitled to any fees.

[30] Supra N. 1

[31] AIR 1981 Cal. 440

[32] IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH, FAO No.2161 of 2012, FAO No.2894 of 2012 FAO No.2970-3085 of 2012, FAO No 3095 of 2012, FAO No.3248-49 of 2012, FAO No.3792-97 of 2012,FAO No.3849 of 2012, FAO No.4050 of 2012, Date of Decision : 8.5.2013        

[33] AIR 2003 SC 2629

[34] Supra N 1

[35] AIR 2000 J&K 79

[36] The arbitral award shall state the reasons upon which it is based, unless—

(a)??????????the parties have agreed that no reasons are to be given, or

(b)?????????the award is an arbitral award on agreed terms under section 30.

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[37] AIR 1991 Del 13

[38] Supra N. 1

[39] 2008 (4) SCC 190

[40] Supra N 1

[41] Supra N 1

[42] Enforcement.—Where the time for making an application to set aside the arbitral award under section 34 has expired, or such application having been made, it has been refused, the award shall be enforced under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) in the same manner as if it were a decree of the Court.

[43] Supra N. 1

[44] (2004) 1 SCC 540

[45] (2006) 8 SCC 18

[46] Supra N 1

[47] IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI, Date of decision: 1st December, 2010, FAO(OS) No.503/2007        

[48] Authority of appointed arbitrator or umpire irrevocable except by leave of Court. The authority of an appointed arbitrator or umpire shall not be revocable except with the- leave of the Court, unless a contrary Intention is expressed in the arbitration agreement.

[49] Waiver of right to object. —A party who knows that—

(a)??????????any provision of this Part from which the parties may derogate, or

(b)?????????any requirement under the arbitration agreement, has not been complied with and yet proceeds with the arbitration without stating his objection to such non-compliance without undue delay or, if a time limit is provided for stating that objection, within that period of time, shall be deemed to have waived his right to so object.

[50] Supra N. 43

[51] Supra N 1

[52] Supra N. 43

[53] Supra N. 1

[54] Supra N. 1

[55] Where any special or local law prescribes for any suit, appeal or application a period of limitation different from the period prescribed by the Schedule, the provisions of section 3 shall apply as if such period were the period prescribed by the Schedule and for the purpose of determining any period of limitation prescribed for any suit, appeal or application by any special or local law, the provisions contained in sections 4 to 24 (inclusive) shall apply only in so far as, and to the extent to which, they are not expressly excluded by such special or local law.

[56] Extension of prescribed period in certain cases. —Any appeal or any application, other than an application under any of the provisions of Order XXI of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), may be admitted after the prescribed period, if the appellant or the applicant satisfies the court that he had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal or making the application within such period. Explanation.— The fact that the appellant or the applicant was misled by any order, practice or judgment of the High Court in ascertaining or computing the prescribed period may be sufficient cause within the meaning of this section.

[57] Supra N 55

[58] Civil Appeal Nos. 1766-67 of 1997 (Arising out of SLP (C) Nos. 1417-18 of 1991), Decided On,?18 February 1997, ?At,?Supreme Court of India

[59] supra N. 1

[60] Supra N. 1

[61] IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA, CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION, Civil Appeal No. 7019 of 2005        

[62] 2004 (2) SCC 105

[63] 2008 (4) SCC 190