Delhi High Court Refuses To Replace Arbitrator Despite 16-Month Delay, Says Substitution At Final Stage Defeats Expeditious Arbitration

The Delhi High Court rejected an application seeking the substitution a retired Supreme Court Judge as the sole arbitrator, despite a delay of more than 16 months in announcing the arbitral award. The Court found it better suited to grant a short extension to facilitate the finality of the proceedings rather than unsettling them through fresh adjudication. The Bench comprising of Justice Subramonium Prasad, on 16th December, 2025, observed that where arbitral proceedings have concluded and the...

Arbitral Tribunal Of Retired Railway Officers Invalid Without Express Waiver U/S 12(5) A&C Act: MP High Court

The Madhya Pradesh High Court bench of Justice Vivek Jain has terminated the mandate of an arbitral tribunal constituted by Railways holding that unilateral appointment of railway officers as arbitrators despite a clear refusal by the contractor to waive the appointment under section 12(5) of the Arbitration Act rendered the tribunal de jure ineligible. The petitioner, Continental Telepower Industries Limited, was awarded a contract by Indian Railways for supply of PVC insulated...

Arbitrator Cannot Disregard Interest Clause In Invoices While Enforcing Arbitration Clause Contained In Them: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has held that once invoices are accepted as binding contractual documents, an arbitral tribunal cannot selectively enforce some clauses while ignoring other clauses contained in the same invoices. Allowing the appeal under section 37 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act (Arbitration Act), Justice Chandrasekharan Sudha set aside an arbitral award on the ground that the arbitral tribunal had erred in refusing to grant contractual claim for interest. The appellant...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Appoints Arbitrator In Shareholder Dispute Over Chairmanship Rotation In KPH Dream Cricket

The Punjab and Haryana High Court, on 23rd December 2025, appointed Justice Harinder Singh Sidhu as the sole arbitrator to resolve a dispute over the "rotational chairmanship" of KPH Dream Cricket Private Limited, the company that owns and administers the IPL franchise - Punjab Kings. Additionally, the Court noted that when appointing an arbitrator under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, the role of the judiciary is restricted to the determination of the arbitration agreement's...

Arbitrator Can't Rewrite Contract By Linking Repayment To Commercial Success Contrary To TDA Terms: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has set aside an arbitral award, holding that the arbitrator travelled beyond the contractual terms by making repayment of financial assistance contingent upon commercial success of the project contrary to the express stipulations of the Technology Development Assistance Agreement (TDA). Justice Jasmeet Singh held that “No doubt the Arbitrator has the power to interpret the terms and conditions of the contract, but, the Arbitrator being the creature of the contract,...

Arbitration Petition Seeking Stay Of Eviction Over Immovable Property Is “Suit For Land”; Outside Jurisdiction Of Original Side: Calcutta HC

The Calcutta High Court has held that a petition filed under Section 9 of the Arbitration Act, seeking a stay on eviction notice in respect of immovable property would amount to a suit for land and is not maintainable if the property is situated outside the territorial jurisdiction of the court's original side. The court said proceedings which directly impact possession of land cannot be decided by it merely because they arise from an arbitration agreement. A Division Bench of...

Arbitration Annual Digest 2025- Part 1

Supreme Court Clause Saying Arbitration "May Be Sought" Doesn't Constitute A Binding Arbitration Agreement : Supreme Court Cause Title: Bgm And M-Rpl-Jmct (Jv) Versus Eastern Coalfields Limited Citation : 2025 LiveLaw (SC) 731 The Supreme Court held that a clause in an agreement that arbitration "may be sought" to resolve disputes between the parties will not constitute a binding arbitration agreement. Approving the refusal of the High Court to refer the parties to...

[Arbitration Act] S.37(1)(c) Applies To Entire S.34; Dismissal On Limitation Or Technical Grounds Is Appealable: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court recently observed that the application of Section 37(1)(c) of the A&C Act is not limited to any specific sub-section, and applies to the entire Section 34 of the A&C Act. The Court, while clarifying the law laid down in Chintels India Ltd. v. Bhayana Builders Pvt. Ltd., [2021 INSC 76], observed that a dismissal of a Section 34 application on the grounds of limitation can be challenged u/s 37(1)(c) of the A&C Act. The division bench of Justice Navin...

Delhi High Court Slaps ₹1 Lakh Costs On Securities Brokerage That Undertook Trades Without Client Mandate

The Delhi High Court recently pulled up a stock brokerage firm for indulging in unauthorised trading and “sharp practices” aimed at earning commission income at the cost of investors. It also imposed a costs of Rs 1 lakh for prolonged harassment of its client. Dismissing an appeal by Trustline Securities Limited, the court held that trades executed without client instructions and without mandatory margin money were illegal and showed “scant regard” for the regulatory framework meant to protect...

Delhi High Court Upholds Arbitral Referral Of Trademark & Passing Off Dispute Involving "Pind Balluchi" Restaurant

The Delhi High Court Bench of Justices Om Prakash Shukla and C. Hari Shankar have allowed the Section 8, Arbitration and Conciliation (“ACA”) application seeking referral for arbitration between M/s Triom Hospitality (“Triom”) and M/s J.S. Hospitality Services Pvt. Ltd. (“J.S.”) regarding the registered trademark of the famous “Pind Balluchi” restaurants. Facts The Appellant i.e. Triom filed the present petition under Section 37, ACA challenging the order dated 28.08.2024 passed by...

Arbitration Clause In Expired Lease Cannot Be Invoked To Execute Fresh Lease: Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court has recently held that an arbitration agreement in an expired lease deed cannot be automatically extended to govern disputes relating to the execution of a fresh lease, even if the proposed lease is claimed to arise from prior correspondence between the parties. Justice Aniruddha Roy in an order dated 23 December, 2025, dismissed an application filed by HDFC Bank Ltd under Section 8 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, seeking reference of the dispute to...

Past Employment With Party Does Not Make Arbitrator Ineligible: J&K&L High Court Reaffirms

The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court on Monday reiterated that an arbitrator does not become ineligible merely because he was employed by one of the parties in the past. The court held that past government service, by itself, does not indicate bias under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act unless it is shown that the arbitrator has a continuing business relationship or had advised a party in connection with the dispute. Justice Sanjay Dhar delivered the ruling on December 22, 2025,...