Interim Award On Admitted Liability In Arbitration Proceedings

The arbitration law in India permits the passing of an interim award by the Arbitral Tribunal vide section 31(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (Hereinafter called the Act) on any matter with respect to which it may make a final award.

An interim award is different from an interim order in as much as an interim award has been held to be a final award, but made at an interim stage¹. In fact the definition clause of the Act clearly provides that the term "arbitral award" includes an interim award². In view of the same, an interim award, unlike an interim order under Section 17 of the Act, can be challenged under Section 34 of the Act and not under Section 37 of the Act.