OCT 05: The Jammu & Kashmir Judicial Academy organized a One Day Workshop on the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — Law, Practice, and Procedure at its Mominabad campus in Srinagar. The event was held under the patronage of Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (Patron-in-Chief, J&K Judicial Academy), and the guidance of the Governing Committee of the Academy.
The workshop was attended by Judges of the District Judiciary from Kashmir Province and Ladakh UT. In her introductory remarks, Sonia Gupta, Director of the Judicial Academy, highlighted the growing importance of arbitration as an effective mechanism for dispute resolution in India’s evolving legal landscape.
The session was conducted by Advocate Manish Mehrotra, who spoke on “Strengthening Arbitration and its Enforcement in India.” He underlined that arbitration rests on the principle of substantial justice over technicalities, and discussed challenges such as high costs, procedural delays, and enforcement issues in arbitral awards.
Mehrotra elaborated on key provisions including Sections 9, 17, 29-A, 34, and 36 of the Act, explaining the powers of courts and arbitral tribunals in granting interim reliefs, extending timelines, and enforcing or setting aside arbitral awards. He emphasized the need for training, quality enhancement, and consistency in the arbitration framework, advocating for regular capacity-building initiatives for judges, arbitrators, and lawyers.
The programme concluded with an interactive session, where participants shared insights and challenges in arbitral enforcement. The workshop reflected the Academy’s ongoing efforts to strengthen alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and enhance judicial competence in arbitration law.
