In Brief
Union of India awarded Simplex Infrastructures a contract for tsunami reconstruction in the Andaman Islands. The Union later rescinded the contract for non-performance; Simplex invoked arbitration. The Arbitrator annulled the rescission and ordered payment. After the Union filed its petition setting aside the award 131 days late, the High Court's Single Judge condoned the delay. The Union's counterparty appealed this order via Letters Patent Appeal. The Supreme Court held that the Arbitration Act is a self-contained code with exhaustive remedies; condonation-of-delay orders are not appealable under Letters Patent, only by special leave to the Supreme Court.
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