#arbitration appointment

The Supreme Court held that an exclusive jurisdiction clause selecting Goa courts fixes the arbitral seat, invalidating the Delhi High Court’s Section 11(6) appointment and clarifying that such clauses override venue provisions for parties and courts.

The Punjab & Haryana High Court affirmed that contractual designation of an arbitrator does not override statutory disqualification under Section 12(5) when the appointing authority has institutional bias. This reinforces that impartiality in arbitration is non-negotiable, and courts must step in to ensure fair proceedings even when parties have pre-agreed appointment mechanisms.