Construction and infrastructure disputes are among the highest-value arbitrations in India. The sector accounts for a substantial proportion of arbitration proceedings under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996, with disputes involving NHAI, Indian Railways, NTPC, state highway authorities and private developers.
Construction arbitration in India typically begins with a notice invoking the arbitration clause, followed by appointment of the arbitral tribunal under Section 11 (or under the contract\'s own mechanism). Interim relief may be sought under Section 9 (court) or Section 17 (tribunal). The arbitration proceeds through pleadings, document production, factual and expert evidence (delay analysis, quantum experts) and hearings. The award, once passed, is enforceable as a decree under Section 36, subject to challenge under Section 34 on limited grounds.
AMLEGALS represents parties across the full spectrum of construction arbitration — from appointment of arbitrators through claim preparation, evidence management, hearing advocacy and award enforcement or challenge. The practice handles ad hoc arbitration under government contracts and institutional arbitration under ICC, SIAC and domestic institutional rules.
Advising on and securing the appointment of arbitrators under Section 11 or institutional rules, including challenges to arbitrator independence.
Obtaining or resisting interim measures under Section 9 (court) and Section 17 (tribunal) — attachment, injunction and preservation orders.
Preparing and presenting delay, variation, disruption and quantum claims with supporting expert evidence.
Representing parties at arbitral hearings, examining witnesses and presenting legal submissions.
Enforcing arbitral awards under Section 36 and resisting enforcement challenges.
Filing or defending applications to set aside arbitral awards under Section 34 on grounds of public policy, patent illegality or procedural irregularity.
The appointment mechanism depends on the arbitration clause. Government contracts often provide for appointment by the employer (a practice increasingly scrutinised following TRF Ltd v Energo Engineering Projects, 2017, and Perkins Eastman v HSCC, 2019, where the Supreme Court held that a party interested in the outcome cannot appoint a sole arbitrator). Where the contractual mechanism fails, either party may apply to the High Court or Supreme Court under Section 11.
Yes. Under Section 9, a court can grant interim measures before, during or after arbitral proceedings — including orders for preservation of property, interim injunctions, appointment of receivers and securing amounts in dispute. Under Section 17, the arbitral tribunal itself can grant interim measures, and post-2015 amendment these are enforceable as court orders.
Construction arbitrations typically involve technical experts — delay analysts (using methodologies such as time-impact analysis, as-planned vs as-built), quantum experts (valuing variations, disruption and prolongation costs) and engineering experts (on defects and technical issues). Experts may be party-appointed or tribunal-appointed.
Under Section 34 of the Arbitration Act, an award can be set aside if: the arbitration agreement was invalid; a party was not given proper notice or was unable to present its case; the award deals with matters beyond the scope of the submission; the tribunal composition or procedure was contrary to the agreement; or the award conflicts with the public policy of India (including patent illegality appearing on the face of the award in domestic arbitrations). Courts do not re-examine the merits.
The 2019 amendment to the Arbitration Act introduced a 12-month timeline for completing arbitration (extendable by 6 months by the tribunal), with penalties for arbitrators who fail to meet the timeline. In practice, complex construction arbitrations often take 2 to 4 years given the volume of documentation, technical evidence and the number of claims and counterclaims.
No. No engagement is treated as accepted until conflicts, scope and terms are confirmed in writing.
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