D. GOPINATHAN PILLAI vs STATE OF KERALA

The Supreme Court held that the delay of 3320 days in filing a petition to set aside an arbitral award cannot be condoned without satisfactory explanation, as mandated by the Arbitration Act, 1940. The Court found that both the Principal Sub Judge and the High Court failed to provide adequate reasons for condoning such an inordinate delay. Consequently, the Court set aside the orders of both lower courts and allowed the appeal, emphasizing the necessity of adhering to legal principles regarding delay in judicial proceedings.