In Brief
A broadcasting company sought appointment of an arbitrator under Section 11 of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996, after Doordarshan (a state-owned entity) failed to nominate its arbitrator in their commercial dispute. The Supreme Court appointed a retired Supreme Court judge as sole arbitrator, with the consent of all parties (modifying the original three-member tribunal agreement). The arbitration was directed to proceed at New Delhi as the seat, with the arbitrator required to complete proceedings within 12 months and make declarations of independence and impartiality. The petition was disposed of accordingly.
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