First Paragraph
Indian arbitration tribunals now have plenty of time on their hands following a recent Supreme Court decision, which held that they are no longer strictly bound by the “time limit for arbitral award” section of their domestic arbitration Act.1 The Indian legislature should address this change by rewriting Section 29 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act of 1996 (hereinafter “ACA”) such that courts must enforce a strict time limit. The Indian Supreme Court in Rohan Builders v Berger Paints India ruled that arbitral tribunals are able to apply for an extension of their mandate both before and after the original twelve-month period expires, putting Article 29A of the ACA into questionable territory.3 This ruling followed years of inconsistent opinions within Indian high courts.4 Some courts strictly enforced the twelve-month mandate, while others granted varying levels of leeway, depending on the circumstances.
Recommended Citation
Spencer M. Warren, Take Your Time: Arbitration Award Timing in India, 17 Arb. L. Rev. 182 (2026).