Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd vs Sterlite Technologies Ltd

The Supreme Court addressed an application under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 for the appointment of a sole arbitrator after the initially appointed arbitrator recused himself. The Court held that under Section 15(2) of the Act, a substitute arbitrator must be appointed according to the rules applicable to the original appointment, which in this case refers to the provisions in the Supply Contract. The Court emphasized that since there were no institutional rules governing the arbitration, the appointment must follow the contractual provisions, thereby allowing the petitioner to seek a new arbitrator as per the contract's stipulations.