Title: Exclusive Jurisdiction and Seat of Arbitration: Examining the Indian Arbitration Landscape
Author(s): Sagar Gupta (View Profile)
Journal: Indian Review of International Arbitration
Source: www.iriarb.com
Abstract:
Erroneous interpretation of statutory provisions and misapplication of dicta laid down by the Supreme
Court of India ["SCI"] in the Bharat Aluminium Co. v. Kaiser Aluminium Technical Services Inc.
["BALCO"] has caused some uncertainty in determining which courts exercise jurisdiction over
arbitrations in India. This error is largely owed to the courts having imported the concept of arbitral
seat into domestic arbitrations without any legislative basis. Such misapplication of a concept from
international arbitrations has caused an inconsistency within the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996
and has led to an incoherent and disjointed understanding of the scope of party autonomy in drafting
arbitration agreements in light of mandatory statutory language. The 246th Report of the Law
Commission of India on Amendments to the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996 sought to remedy
this situation; however, the resulting amendments in 2015 did not reflect the change. This article
examines the legal framework surrounding exclusive jurisdiction clauses in arbitration in India and the
relationship between arbitral seat and exclusive jurisdiction. In the light of the text of the legislation,
the position taken by courts is seemingly practical, yet arguably without statutory basis. Therefore,
relevant amendments to the legislation have been suggested to clarify the scope of arbitral seat in
Indian arbitrations.
Keywords: Exclusive Jurisdiction; Part; I arbitration, BALCO, Indus Mobile and BGS Soma
Cite this as: Sagar Gupta, Exclusive Jurisdiction and Seat of Arbitration: Examining the Indian Arbitration Landscape, 1 IRIArb 94, 94-113 (2021).
*The views expressed are that of author(s) only.
