Part – I-A: Arbitration Council of India

Section 43-A: Definitions—

In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(a) “Chairperson ”means the Chairperson of the Arbitration Council of India appointed under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of Section 43-C;

(b) “Council ”means the Arbitration Council of India established under Section 43-B;

Section 43-B: Establishment and incorporation of Arbitration Council of India—

(1) The Central Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish, for the purposes of this Act, a Council to be known as the Arbitration Council of India to perform the duties and discharge the functions under this Act.

(2) The Council shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power, subject to the provisions of this Act, to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to enter into contract, and shall, by the said name, sue or be sued.

(3) The head office of the Council shall be at Delhi.

(4) The Council may, with the prior approval of the Central Government, establish offices at other places in India.

Section 43-C: Composition of Council—

(1) The Council shall consist of the following Members, namely:—

(a) a person, who has been, a Judge of the Supreme Court or, Chief Justice of a High Court or, a Judge of a High Court or an eminent person, having special knowledge and experience in the conduct or administration of arbitration, to be appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India—Chairperson;

(b) an eminent arbitration practitioner having substantial knowledge and experience in institutional arbitration, both domestic and international, to be nominated by the Central Government—Member;

(c) an eminent academician having experience in research and teaching in the field of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution laws, to be appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the Chairperson—Member;

(d) Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice or his representative not below the rank of Joint Secretary—Member, ex officio;

(e) Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance or his representative not below the rank of Joint Secretary—Member, ex officio;

(f) one representative of a recognised body of commerce and industry, chosen on rotational basis by the Central Government—Part-time Member; and

(g) Chief Executive Officer—Member-Secretary, ex officio.

(2) The Chairperson and Members of the Council, other than ex officio Members, shall hold office as such, for a term of three years from the date on which they enter upon their office:

Provided that no Chairperson or Member, other than ex officio Member, shall hold office as such after he has attained the age of seventy years in the case of Chairperson and sixty-seven years in the case of Member.

(3) The salaries, allowances and other terms and conditions of the Chairperson and Members referred to in clauses (b) and (c) of sub-section (1) shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

(4) The Part-time Member shall be entitled to such travelling and other allowances as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

Section 43-D: Duties and functions of Council—

(1) It shall be the duty of the Council to take all such measures as may be necessary to promote and encourage arbitration, mediation, conciliation or other alternative dispute resolution mechanism and for that purpose to frame policy and guidelines for the establishment, operation and maintenance of uniform professional standards in respect of all matters relating to arbitration.

(2) For the purposes of performing the duties and discharging the functions under this Act, the Council may—

(a) frame policies governing the grading of arbitral institutions;

(b) recognise professional institutes providing accreditation of arbitrators;

(d) hold training, workshops and courses in the area of arbitration in collaboration of law firms, law universities and arbitral institutes;

(e) frame, review and update norms to ensure satisfactory level of arbitration and conciliation;

(f) act as a forum for exchange of views and techniques to be adopted for creating a platform to make India a robust centre for domestic and international arbitration and conciliation;

(g) make recommendations to the Central Government on various measures to be adopted to make provision for easy resolution of commercial disputes;

(h) promote institutional arbitration by strengthening arbitral institutions;

(i) conduct examination and training on various subjects relating to arbitration and conciliation and award certificates thereof;

(j) establish and maintain depository of arbitral awards made in India;

(k) make recommendations regarding personnel, training and infrastructure of arbitral institutions; and

(l) such other functions as may be decided by the Central Government.

Section 43-E: Vacancies, etc., not to invalidate proceedings of Council—

No act or proceeding of the Council shall be invalid merely by reason of—

(a) any vacancy or any defect, in the constitution of the Council;

(b) any defect in the appointment of a person acting as a Member of the Council; or

Section 43-F: Resignation of Members—

The Chairperson or the Full-time or Part-time Member may, by notice in writing, under his hand addressed to the Central Government, resign his office:

Provided that the Chairperson or the Full-time Member shall, unless he is permitted by the Central Government to relinquish his office sooner, continue to hold office until the expiry of three months from the date of receipt of such notice or until a person duly appointed as his successor enters upon his office or until the expiry of his term of office, whichever is earlier.

Section 43-G: Removal of Member—

(1) The Central Government may, remove a Member from his office if he—

(a) is an undischarged insolvent; or

(b) has engaged at any time (except Part-time Member), during his term of office, in any paid employment; or

(d) has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as a Member; or

(e) has so abused his position as to render his continuance in office prejudicial to the public interest; or

(f) has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as a Member.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), no Member shall be removed from his office on the grounds specified in clauses (d) and (e) of that sub-section unless the Supreme Court, on a reference being made to it in this behalf by the Central Government, has, on an inquiry, held by it in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed in this behalf by the Supreme Court, reported that the Member, ought on such ground or grounds to be removed.

Section 43-H: Appointment of experts and constitution of Committees thereof—

The Council may, appoint such experts and constitute such Committees of experts as it may consider necessary to discharge its functions on such terms and conditions as may be specified by the regulations.

Section 43-I: General norms for grading of arbitral institutions—

The Council shall make grading of arbitral institutions on the basis of criteria relating to infrastructure, quality and calibre of arbitrators, performance and compliance of time limits for disposal of domestic or international commercial arbitrations, in such manner as may be specified by the regulations.

Section 43-J: Norms for accreditation—

The qualifications, experience and norms for accreditation of arbitrators shall be such as specified in the Eighth Schedule:

Provided that the Central Government may, after consultation with the Council, by notification in the Official Gazette, amend the Eighth Schedule and thereupon, the Eighth Schedule shall be deemed to have been amended accordingly.

Section 43-K: Depository of awards—

The Council shall maintain an electronic depository of arbitral awards made in India and such other records related thereto in such manner as may be specified by the regulations.

Section 43-L: Power to make regulations by Council—

The Council may, in consultation with the Central Government, make regulations, consistent with the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, for the discharge of its functions and perform its duties under this Act.

Section 43-M: Chief Executive Officer—

(1) There shall be a Chief Executive Officer of the Council, who shall be responsible for day-to-day administration of the Council.

(2) The qualifications, appointment and other terms and conditions of the service of the Chief Executive Officer shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

(3) The Chief Executive Officer shall discharge such functions and perform such duties as may be specified by the regulations.

(4) There shall be a Secretariat to the Council consisting of such number of officers and employees as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

(5) The qualifications, appointment and other terms and conditions of the service of the employees and other officers of the Council shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

IMPORTANT CASE LAWS

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Part – I-A: Arbitration Council of India

IMPORTANT CASE LAWS

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