In Brief
The Supreme Court held that an arbitral award vitiated by unexplained delay (nearly 4 years) and rendered unworkable by failure to finally resolve disputes—while irreversibly altering party positions—is patently illegal and in conflict with public policy under the Arbitration Act. The Court found the Arbitrator had misconstrued contractual clauses (Architect's certificate sufficing for completion) and left parties to fresh litigation after their positions were already altered. Using Article 142, the Court validated unlawfully executed sale deeds but penalized the developer Company ₹10 crores (forfeiture of security deposits + compensation to landowners) and entitled it to possession upon payment, achieving final justice without fresh arbitration.
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