IT is absolutely pointless to make the arbitrator a party to a challenge petition, unless specific personal allegations are made which would merit an answer from the arbitrator.

Whether the arbitrator could be made a party in a Section 34 application?

Kothari Industrial Corporation Ltd. v. M/S Southern Petrochemicals Industries (Judgment dated 29.09.2021 in OSA (CAD) No.83 of 2021)

The High Court of Madras imposed a cost of Rs. 1 Lakh on the appellants for unnecessarily impleading the arbitrator as a party under Section 34 petition. The court observed that it is absolutely pointless to make the arbitrator a party to a challenge petition, unless specific personal allegations are made which would merit an answer from the arbitrator