Delhi High Court Terminates Mandate Of Arbitrator Over Unexplained Delay Of 8 Years In Delivering Award

Delhi HC terminates arbitrator’s mandate under Section 14 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act due to an 8-year unexplained delay in award delivery. The court stressed the paramount importance of timely dispute resolution in arbitration proceedings. It found that such an egregious delay undermines the very purpose of arbitration, which is to provide an expeditious alternative to traditional litigation. The termination of the arbitrator's mandate highlights the judiciary's commitment to ensuring that arbitration remains an efficient and effective mechanism for resolving commercial disputes, holding arbitrators accountable for unreasonable delays.