Chandigarh, March 11:
The India International Disputes Week concluded today at the Chandigarh Judicial Academy with jurists, arbitration practitioners and policy experts deliberating on the future of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in India.
Delivering the keynote address, Arun Chawla, Director General of the Indian Council of Arbitration, emphasised that credible dispute resolution systems are central to investor confidence and economic growth. He noted that as cross-border commerce expands, strengthening institutional arbitration and responsibly integrating technology will be key to building trust in India’s dispute resolution ecosystem.
A panel on the evolution of ADR practices in India featured Naresh Markanda, Shashwat Bajpai, Deepak Jindal, Animesh Anand Bordoloi, Neeraj Kochar, Harishankar K Sathiyapalan, and Col Narinder Singh, moderated by Jonathan Rodrigues. Speakers discussed the growing importance of mediation, arbitration and institutional mechanisms in addressing commercial disputes and improving access to efficient dispute resolution.
Another panel examined institutional arbitration versus ad hoc arbitration, featuring Sanjeev Sharma, Devna Arora, Devathas Satianathan, A J Jawad, Siddhesh Pradhan, Ulla Glaesser, Navin Kumar Singh, and Sahil Narang, moderated by Shruti Sabharwal. Panelists highlighted that institutional arbitration offers greater procedural clarity, cost transparency and oversight, which strengthens the enforceability of arbitral awards.
In the session titled “Anatomy of Enforceable Awards,” S. J. Vazifdar and Kshitij Sharma discussed the importance of carefully reasoned arbitral awards and procedural discipline to minimise challenges at the enforcement stage.
Earlier, J R Midha shared insights on improving arbitration efficiency through streamlined procedures. He emphasised structured pleadings, identification of admitted and disputed facts at the outset, use of interrogatories and video-recorded cross-examinations to reduce delays and ensure that arbitrations are completed within the statutory timeline.
Delivering the valedictory address, Dinesh Maheshwari highlighted that arbitration has evolved into a dynamic institution of dispute resolution and stressed the importance of strengthening institutional frameworks, legal scholarship and global collaboration to position India as a credible arbitration hub.
In his concluding remarks, Ashwani Kumar Mishra said the week-long event had brought together diverse perspectives from across jurisdictions and emphasised that the ultimate objective of dispute resolution mechanisms is to promote peace and certainty in society. He also lauded the participation of young lawyers and students and appreciated the efforts of the organising team, expressing confidence that initiatives such as the Chandigarh International Arbitration Centre would evolve into institutions of excellence for dispute resolution.
