#arbitration jurisdiction

Madhya Pradesh High Court reiterates that arbitrators under Section 3-G(5) of the National Highways Act, 1956, lack jurisdiction to remand land acquisition disputes for fresh adjudication. The ruling binds all arbitrators to decide matters based on available material, reinforcing the precedent set in WP No. 2521/2017. This decision impacts landowners, NHAI, and arbitrators handling compensation disputes under the Act.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has ruled that District Judges, even when acting as civil courts, lack jurisdiction to entertain Section 34 challenges to arbitral awards unless formally designated as Commercial Courts under the Commercial Courts Act, 2015. This invalidates prior orders and mandates that all such objections be filed exclusively before constituted Commercial Courts, reshaping procedural strategy for businesses and state entities across India.

Bombay High Court holds that multi-state co-operative banks may opt for arbitration under MSCS Act instead of RDB Act or SARFAESI proceedings, affirming statutory choice and non-obstante clause validity.