South Delhi Municipal Corporation v. Aerostral Air Services Pvt. Ltd.
Case brief
What is this about?
Delhi High Court, Subramonium Prasad J (20.03.2025): SDMC's three Sec.34 A&C Act 1996 challenges to 2017 arbitral awards dismissed; award copy filed 20.03.2018 exceeded max limit (grace ended 15.03.2018); sans-copy filing treated as non-est per Pragati Construction (FB, DHC 2025 SCC OnLine Del 636) and Ircon International (DB, 2023 SCC OnLine Del 534); post-deadline delay not condonable as Limitation Act inapplicable to arbitration proceedings.
What did the court decide?
Since the copy of the Award was filed only on 20.03.2018, beyond the maximum period prescribed under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, the filing is non est and this Court is not in a position to entertain the present petitions; delay beyond the maximum period cannot be condoned as the Limitation Act is not applicable to proceedings under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (per the Apex Court, as relied on by this Court).