India Must Inspire Global Confidence In Cross-Border Dispute Resolution: CJI Surya Kant At CIAC Launch

The inauguration marked the formal commencement of the five-day global conference on cross-border dispute resolution being held from March 7 to March 11. The event has brought together judges, arbitrators, legal practitioners, policymakers, corporate counsel and academics from India and several foreign jurisdictions to deliberate on emerging developments in arbitration, mediation and international commercial disputes.

Delivering the keynote address, the CJI stressed that India must develop a dispute resolution ecosystem that commands global trust as the country expands its role in international trade and commerce.

“In mature economies, disputes are not signs of weakness. They are natural by-products of growth. What matters is whether disagreements are resolved with credibility and consistency,” he said, adding that investors often ask a fundamental question before committing capital: where disputes will be resolved and whether the legal system will effectively protect their interests.

Reflecting on his personal connection with the city, Justice Kant said returning to Chandigarh held special meaning for him as he had started his professional career in the corridors of the Punjab and Haryana High Court as a young advocate before later serving as Advocate General and eventually a judge.

“Chandigarh is no ordinary backdrop. It is a city conceived with deliberation, designed with vision and structured with care. Institutions too do not arise by accident. They are imagined, built and sustained with foresight,” he remarked.

Drawing a parallel between city planning and institutional design, the CJI said arbitration centres must be built with the same discipline, neutrality and credibility that underpin well-designed civic institutions. He observed that if the Chandigarh International Arbitration Centre establishes a reputation for neutrality and procedural integrity, it can contribute significantly to India’s emergence as a dependable seat for international arbitration.

Justice Kant also noted that India’s arbitration ecosystem has undergone significant transformation over the past decade through legislative reforms and consistent judicial efforts aimed at reducing delays and limiting unnecessary court interference in arbitral proceedings. He further highlighted the growing importance of mediation following the enactment of the Mediation Act, 2023, observing that mediation allows parties to resolve disputes while preserving commercial relationships.

“Mediation allows resolution without residue. Not every disagreement requires a judicial verdict; some require mutual understanding,” he said, emphasising that arbitration, mediation and litigation must function as complementary pillars of a modern dispute resolution framework.

The newly launched CIAC will initially function from premises in Sector 17, Chandigarh, and is expected to shift later to a dedicated campus, with about 15 acres of land at Sarangpur earmarked for the project.

The centre has been established under the aegis of the Punjab and Haryana High Court as a professionally administered institutional platform for the resolution of domestic and international commercial disputes through arbitration. Organisers said the institution aims to promote efficient, transparent and cost-effective dispute resolution using modern administrative practices and technology-enabled processes aligned with international standards.

The inaugural event was attended by several members of the judiciary and legal fraternity, including Supreme Court judges Rajesh Bindal, Satish Chandra Sharma and P. K. Mishra, along with G. S. Sandhawalia and Attorney General for India R. Venkataramani.

Other speakers included Dr. Manuj Bhardwaj, senior advisor for India at the International Law Institute, Washington DC; Professor Dr. Satinder S. Juss of King’s College London; and Manpreet Monica Singh, the first elected Sikh woman judge in the United States.

Recently, the CJI had said that while India’s arbitration framework has matured significantly, serious challenges remain in building trust, strengthening institutional capacity and creating a robust pipeline of trained arbitral professionals. Speaking after laying the foundation stone for the Gujarat High Court Arbitration Centre (GHAC) in Ahmedabad, the CJI said India must measure its arbitral ecosystem against the standards of leading global arbitral seats and the expectations of parties who opt for arbitration as a faster and more efficient alternative to litigation. 

“I must acknowledge that India’s arbitration framework has by now matured considerably,” he had said, referring to legislative reforms to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act that emphasise minimal judicial intervention, time-bound proceedings and neutrality in appointments. He added that judicial pronouncements have reinforced party autonomy and clarified doctrinal uncertainties.