Calcutta High Court validates arbitral award issued before judge's oath

The Calcutta High Court has ruled that an arbitral award remains valid even if it is issued before an arbitrator officially assumes office as a judge. The ruling addressed a petition by The Hooghly Mills Company Limited regarding the extension of an arbitral tribunal's mandate.

The dispute involved an objection that the arbitrator was incompetent to pass the award because they had been elevated to the Bench. However, Justice Gaurang Kanth noted that the award was published at 2:00 p.m. on August 8, 2026, while the arbitrator did not take the judicial oath until 4:15 p.m. that same day. The court concluded that the timing of the judicial appointment did not affect the validity of the award.