#jurisdiction of arbitral tribunal

The Bombay High Court nullified an arbitral award because a new agreement containing an arbitration clause did not automatically govern disputes under a prior, still-active toll collection contract where jurisdiction was expressly reserved for civil courts. This reinforces that arbitration requires clear, specific consent per dispute context-not blanket assumption through contract substitution. Contractors and infrastructure agencies must now draft replacement agreements with explicit jurisdictional carve-outs.

Delhi High Court rules that an arbitral tribunal's rejection of an impleadment application constitutes a jurisdictional ruling under Section 16 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, making it appealable under Section 37. The decision reinforces that non-signatories may be bound by arbitration agreements based on conduct and contractual interlinkage, expanding the scope of arbitral jurisdiction.

Andhra Pradesh High Court holds that filing a civil suit during ongoing arbitration violates Section 8 of the Arbitration Act; courts must refer parties to arbitration without delay.