A party to arbitral proceedings may (upon notice to the other parties, to the arbitrator concerned and to any other arbitrator) apply to the court to remove an arbitrator on any of the following grounds—
and that substantial injustice has been or will be caused to the applicant.
If there is an arbitral or other institution or person vested by the parties with power to remove an arbitrator, the court shall not exercise its power of removal unless satisfied that the applicant has first exhausted any available recourse to that institution or person.
The arbitral tribunal may continue the arbitral proceedings and make an award while an application to the court under this section is pending.
Where the court removes an arbitrator, it may make such order as it thinks fit with respect to his entitlement (if any) to fees or expenses, or the repayment of any fees or expenses already paid.
The arbitrator concerned is entitled to appear and be heard by the court before it makes any order under this section.
The court may not order the arbitrator to pay costs in proceedings under this section unless any act or omission of the arbitrator in connection with the proceedings is shown to have been in bad faith.
The leave of the court is required for any appeal from a decision of the court under this section.