#arbitrator eligibility

Chhattisgarh High Court holds that an arbitral award rendered by a unilaterally appointed arbitrator is void from the outset under Section 12(5) and Schedule 7 of the Arbitration Act, barring execution proceedings. The ruling reinforces statutory disqualification of arbitrators appointed without mutual consent, impacting arbitration clauses in commercial contracts.

Bombay HC rules that an arbitral award is invalid if the arbitrator was appointed unilaterally by one party, aligning with the Supreme Court's Perkins Eastman precedent. The court set aside the award solely on this ground, emphasizing procedural fairness under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.