Section 29A of Arbitration Act Will Not Be Applicable to Arbitration Proceedings Commenced Before 2015 Amendment Came into Force: Himachal Pradesh HC

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has ruled that Section 29A of the Arbitration Act, which sets time limits for arbitral awards, does not apply to arbitration proceedings commenced before the 2015 amendment came into force. The court emphasized that retrospective application of the provision would lead to unfairness and procedural complications. This ruling clarifies the temporal application of legislative amendments in arbitration, ensuring that parties to pre-amendment arbitrations are not subject to new time constraints, thereby maintaining the integrity of the arbitral process.