J U D G M E N T

SANJAY KUMAR, J

1. Two questions arise for consideration in these appeals: -

(i) What is the effect of undue and unexplained delay in the pronouncement of an arbitral award upon its validity?

(ii) Is an arbitral award that is unworkable, in terms of not settling the disputes between the parties finally while altering their positions irrevocably thereby leaving them no choice but to initiate further litigation, liable to be set aside on grounds of perversity, patent illegality and being opposed to the public policy of India? If so, would it be a fit case for exercise of jurisdiction under Article 142 of the Constitution?

In this case, the learned Arbitrator reserved his arbitral award on 28.07.2012 but pronounced it only on 16.03.2016, i.e., nearly three years and Signature Not Verified D ba igeb i i t t a a li ly pg a s n ig dhn e e y dt b ymonths later, with no definite resolution of the matter. Significantly, no Date: 2025.10.31 Reason: explanation worth the name was offered by him for the delay.

2. The issue of delay in the delivery of an arbitral award is relevant now only in the context of the period prior to insertion of Section 29A in the Arbitration and Conciliati