Once an arbitrator delivers a final award, they lose jurisdiction and cannot modify or clarify it unless specifically permitted by law. The arbitrator becomes functus officio after the passing of the award. The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (the 1996 Act), under Section 33, generally limits arbitrator corrections to 30 days. Further, the parties may challenge the award under Section 34 of the 1996 Act.
The issue of post-award clarification beyond 30 days was recently discussed in detail by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in North Delhi Municipal Corporation v. S.A. Builders Ltd.1where the court upheld that such clarification is valid when expressly permitted by the Court.
