Gujarat High Court calls for enhanced representation of women and technical experts in arbitrator appointments, citing current figure of only 29.97% female arbitrators.
The Gujarat High Court has issued directions emphasizing the need for greater inclusion of women and technical experts in the appointment of arbitrators. Observing that only 29.97% of arbitrators appointed in recent cases were women, the court urged parties, counsels, and arbitration institutions to take proactive steps toward gender balance and domain-specific expertise.
The court noted that diversity in arbitration panels enhances the legitimacy and effectiveness of proceedings, particularly in complex commercial disputes requiring specialized knowledge. It recommended institutional mechanisms to maintain panels reflective of professional diversity and gender parity.
For practitioners, this order signals judicial expectation toward equitable appointment practices. Arbitration institutions and legal counsel may need to justify disproportionate gender representation or lack of technical qualification in arbitrator selections during challenges under Section 12 or 14 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
