#Execution of Awards

Limitation for executing a 2008 arbitral award runs from 23 October 2015, when amended Section 36 made awards immediately enforceable, not the award date. Pre-amendment law required the Section 34 challenge period to expire first, blocking execution for seven years per National Aluminium. The ruling shields award holders from statutory gaps that delayed enforcement.

Appointments of arbitrators made unilaterally before the 23 Oct 2015 amendment are not void, provided the arbitration agreement either names the arbitrator or permits one party to appoint. Only appointments lacking any contractual basis are set aside. This clarifies the enforceability of older arbitral clauses for parties and courts handling award execution.

J&K & Ladakh HC clarifies that post-decretal interest on arbitral awards under the J&K Arbitration Act, 1945, is calculable only on the principal sum, excluding pre-reference and pendente lite interest. This ruling diverges from the broader interpretation permitted under the State CPC, impacting execution of awards in arbitration disputes.

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has ruled that co-sharers in acquired land are entitled to the same compensation as other co-owners, even if they never filed objections under Sections 18 or 28-A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. This removes a procedural barrier for beneficiaries of land acquisition awards, ensuring equitable treatment regardless of litigation participation.