#Jurisdiction Clause

The Bombay High Court ruled that when parties execute a later agreement with a conflicting jurisdiction clause, even in complex multi-party transactions, the most recent intent controls-rendering prior forum selections void. This clarifies that entire agreement clauses in commercial assignments override earlier terms, giving businesses certainty in choosing litigation venues post-negotiation.

A jurisdiction clause specifying 'Indore courts' alone cannot exclude Pune courts' territorial jurisdiction if the contract's execution, delivery, and payment obligations occurred entirely in Pune. The Bombay High Court reaffirmed that connecting factors to the chosen forum must exist for such clauses to be enforceable, impacting contract drafting and dispute resolution strategies.

Calcutta High Court rules that Section 42 of the Arbitration Act creates exclusive jurisdiction for all subsequent applications once the first application is filed before a court.