CJI Surya Kant Urges Arbitration Council Formation

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has expressed strong concern regarding the failure to constitute the Arbitration Council of India, six years after the governing legislation was passed. The absence of this body remains a significant hurdle in streamlining the country's alternative dispute resolution mechanism.

The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, which mandated the creation of the Council, was enacted to reduce the burden on the judiciary and promote faster dispute settlement. Despite this, administrative delays have prevented the body from becoming operational, leading to calls for the government to expedite the process through the Parliamentary route.

A functioning Council is seen as vital for improving India’s Ease of Doing Business rankings and fostering a more efficient legal environment for commercial arbitration. The Chief Justice's remarks emphasize the need for a total overhaul of the current framework, signaling that judicial patience regarding administrative inertia is wearing thin in the face of persistent caseloads.