Hit by high claims, NHAI suggests treating arbitrators as ‘public servants’

NEW DELHI: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has suggested treating arbitrators as ‘public servants’ considering that in some cases, the arbitration awards have been ‘exorbitant’.
The highways authority, which has perhaps maximum number of arbitration cases among all departments, has suggested this to the finance ministry, which has circulated a Cabinet proposal to streamline the release of 75% of arbitration award amount to private parties. The ministry, in the proposal, has suggested all government agencies to refer every arbitration award to law ministry before challenging it in any high court.
As per the law, it’s mandatory for all public servants to file declarations of their assets and liabilities and those of their spouses and dependent children. Moreover, they come under the purview of anti-corruption watchdog, central vigilance commission (CVC).
The CVC can undertake any inquiry into any transaction in which a public servant is suspected or alleged to have acted for an improper or corrupt purpose.