An arbitral tribunal is the sole arbitrator or panel of arbitrators appointed to decide a dispute referred to arbitration. Under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, it is the body that hears the parties, receives evidence and makes a binding award.
The parties decide the number of arbitrators, provided it is not an even number. In practice, most tribunals are either a sole arbitrator or a three-member panel. If the parties do not agree on the number, the tribunal consists of a sole arbitrator.
The tribunal has significant powers. It can rule on its own jurisdiction under Section 16, including objections about the existence or validity of the arbitration agreement. It can decide procedure where the parties have not agreed. It can grant interim measures under Section 17, which are enforceable like court orders. It can appoint experts, order document production, and proceed in the absence of a party that fails to participate without sufficient cause.
The tribunal's powers also have limits. It can only decide disputes that fall within the arbitration agreement and are arbitrable. It must treat the parties with equality and give each a full opportunity to present its case. Its members must be independent and impartial, and must disclose any circumstances that might give rise to justifiable doubts about that.
Once the tribunal makes its final award, its mandate generally ends, except for limited functions such as correcting clerical errors or making an additional award on claims it omitted.