India: Arbitration & Dispute Resolution

The Supreme Court of India has clarified the interplay between Sections 33 and 34(3) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, establishing that the limitation period for challenging an arbitral award is deferred regardless of the nature or outcome of correction applications filed under Section 33. This landmark ruling addresses whether parties must file simultaneous remedies or can await tribunal decisions on correction applications before initiating challenge proceedings.

The Supreme Court of India has significantly altered the landscape for enforcing foreign summary judgments in India by holding that English summary judgments refusing leave to defend cannot be considered judgments "on the merits" under Indian law. This landmark ruling examines whether a foreign court's refusal to grant leave to defend, despite the existence of bona fide triable issues, satisfies the requirements of natural justice and merits-based adjudication under the Code of Civil Procedure.

The effectiveness of international arbitration ultimately depends not on obtaining an arbitral award, but on successfully enforcing it against the losing party. An arbitration award that cannot be enforced is little more than a paper victory. For this reason, the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards remain one of the most important pillars of international commercial arbitration.

The Delhi High Court, in its judgment dated 30th May 2026 (ARB.P. 1778/2025), delivered a significant ruling in the case of VE Commercial Vehicles Limited v. Singh Enterprises, adjudicating upon complex...

The CESTAT Chennai examined whether importing electric vehicle components separately over time constitutes importing in CKD (Completely Knocked Down) form, which would affect customs duty eligibility. The tribunal analyzed whether disparate imports of parts like frames, motors, and controllers—imported through multiple bills of entry without batteries—could be aggregated to claim they formed complete vehicle kits.

This newsletter presents a comprehensive roundup of significant competition law developments in India, covering landmark judgments from the Supreme Court and various High Courts, alongside notable orders from the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal and the Competition Commission of India. The June edition highlights critical cases involving market dominance, merger approvals, and enforcement actions that shape India's competitive landscape.

India’s maritime sector stands at a historic turning point. On 15th March, 2026, the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 came into force, repealing the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, a law framed in the final years of British rule and amended 18 times over six decades.

The appeal arose from an arbitral dispute in which the appellant challenged an order of the Arbitral Tribunal rejecting an objection under Section 16 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The appellant contended that various agreements executed between the parties were insufficiently stamped and, being in the nature of “conveyance”, ought to have been impounded before arbitration could proceed.

The validity of an arbitration agreement under Section 7 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (Act) ultimately boils down to consent. At its core, an arbitration clause is nothing more than a contractual promise by the parties to resolve their disputes outside the regular court system. But consent isn’t always straightforward.