In Brief
The Supreme Court addressed whether delays in filing Section 34 arbitration petitions (challenging awards) could be condoned using the Limitation Act. The court held that the phrase "but not thereafter" in Section 34(3) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 absolutely bars delays beyond three months plus thirty days. Courts cannot extend this 120-day boundary, even to prevent meritorious cases from being defeated or using general Limitation Act provisions. The 197-day delay in this case could not be condoned. The court reversed the Division Bench's casual condonation and restored the Single Judge's rejection of the petition.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.