An arbitrator, validly appointed, REFUSES to act in the arbitration, and the parties are unable to agree on a substitute. Under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 the party may:

Where an arbitrator refuses to act, or is unable to perform his functions, or otherwise withdraws from office, his MANDATE terminates (Section 14), and a SUBSTITUTE arbitrator must be appointed according to the rules that were applicable to the appointment of the arbitrator being replaced (Section 15, a time-based substitute-appointment rule). Where the parties cannot agree, a party may apply to the court under Section 11 for appointment of an arbitrator. The arbitration agreement survives the arbitrator's mandate, and the substitute continues the proceedings. This keeps the reference alive despite the individual arbitrator's withdrawal.