Compliance with ninety-day commencement mandate under Section 9(2)

Section 9(2) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 mandates that where a court grants an order for any interim measure of protection before the commencement of arbitral proceedings, the arbitral proceedings must be commenced within ninety days from the date of such interim order or within such further time as the court may determine. Satisfaction of this ninety-day mandate is achieved the moment the respondent receives the applicant's notice or request invoking arbitration under Section 21 within the stipulated time frame, regardless of whether a Section 11 judicial petition is subsequently filed. (Regenta Hotels Private Limited v. M/s Hotel Grand Centre Point | 2026 INSC 32)