Page:Arbitration Act 2001.pdf/13

Rh :(d) any suggestion made by any of the parties regarding the appointment of any arbitrator;
 * (e) any qualifications required of the arbitrator by the arbitration agreement; and
 * (f) such considerations as are likely to secure the appointment of an independent and impartial arbitrator.

(7) No appointment by the appointing authority shall be challenged except in accordance with this Act.

(8) For the purposes of this Act, the appointing authority shall be the Chairman of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre.

(9) The Chief Justice may, if he thinks fit, by notification published in the Gazette, appoint any other person to exercise the powers of the appointing authority under this section.

Grounds for challenge

14.—(1) Where any person is approached in connection with his possible appointment as an arbitrator, he shall disclose any circumstance likely to give rise to justifiable doubts as to his impartiality or independence.

(2) An arbitrator shall, from the time of his appointment and throughout the arbitration proceedings, without delay disclose any such circumstance as is referred to in subsection (1) to the parties unless they have already been so informed by him.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), an arbitrator may be challenged only if—
 * (a) circumstances exist that give rise to justifiable doubts as to his impartiality or independence; or
 * (b) he does not possess the qualifications agreed to by the parties.

(4) A party who has appointed or participated in the appointment of any arbitrator may challenge such arbitrator only if he becomes aware of any of the grounds of challenge set out in subsection (3) as may be applicable to the arbitrator after the arbitrator has been appointed.

Challenge procedure

15.—(1) Subject to subsection (3), the parties are free to agree on a procedure for challenging an arbitrator.