Before accepting an appointment as an arbitrator, a person must disclose any circumstances likely to give rise to justifiable doubts as to his independence or impartiality, under:

Section 12 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act requires a person approached for appointment to disclose in writing any circumstance likely to give rise to justifiable doubts as to his independence or impartiality, and such circumstances are enumerated in the Fifth Schedule, with a stricter ground stated in the Seventh Schedule. A party may challenge an arbitrator on grounds including the existence of such justifiable doubts. Section 12 and its Schedules operationalise the impartiality and independence essential to valid arbitration. The disclosure duty is a key appointment-stage safeguard.