Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd., v. Safina Farook Gazi
Case brief
What is this about?
Bombay HC batch order (Abhay Ahuja, J.; 27-04-2026): unilateral appointment of sole arbitrator — arbitral awards set aside; Commercial Execution Applications / Execution Applications, interim applications and chamber summons dismissed / disposed; parties free to initiate fresh arbitration; limitation — period from invocation till date excluded; liberty to apply on express written waiver under proviso to S.12(5), Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996. Relies on Bhadra International (India) Pvt. Ltd. v. Airports Authority of India, 2026 SCC Online SC 7 (void ab initio; objection even in execution). Keywords: unilateral arbitrator, void ab initio, execution application, Section 12(5) waiver, fresh/de novo arbitration, limitation exclusion.
What did the court decide?
Parties permitted to initiate fresh arbitration proceedings in accordance with law; period from invocation of the arbitration till today excluded for limitation; liberty to apply where an express written agreement under the proviso to Section 12(5) waives the sole arbitrator's ineligibility or the right to object under Section 12(5).