CJI Stresses Need For Efficient Arbitration Frameworks In India–UK Economic Partnership

New Delhi, Jun 6 (KNN) Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Friday called for strengthening Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) systems to support the expanding economic partnership between India and the United Kingdom, stressing that effective arbitration frameworks are essential for sustaining trade and investment growth.

He was speaking at the 4th International Conference on ‘Arbitrating Indo-UK Commercial Disputes’ organised by the Indian Council of Arbitration (ICA) in London.

CJI Emphasises Stronger Institutional Arbitration 
Highlighting the importance of institutional arbitration, the CJI said that procedural fairness must remain central to dispute resolution, adding that party autonomy should not become a source of procedural uncertainty.

Referring to the proposed India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), he noted that bilateral trade is expected to increase by around USD 34 billion annually in the coming years, underscoring the scale of economic engagement between the two countries.

Efficient Dispute Resolution Key To Trade Confidence
He observed that while trade agreements and investment commitments lay the foundation for cooperation, long-term commercial confidence depends on efficient dispute resolution mechanisms that function effectively in practice.

CJI Surya Kant said that arbitration frameworks must ensure affordability, accessibility and timeliness, particularly for mid-sized businesses, including firms in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, fintech, clean energy and digital platforms.

He cautioned that international arbitration is increasingly reflecting challenges similar to traditional court systems, including rising costs and procedural delays, stating that arbitration must not replicate the inefficiencies it was designed to overcome.

Proposed Reforms To Strengthen ADR Systems 
To address these concerns, he proposed measures including a joint Indo-UK arbitrator accreditation and cross-training programme, fast-track procedures for mid-value commercial disputes, and stronger integration of arbitration with mediation through hybrid mechanisms.

He also suggested capped fees, streamlined documentary processes, online hearings where appropriate, and defined timelines for resolution to improve accessibility and efficiency.

ADR Systems Must Preserve Commercial Relationships 
The CJI further emphasised that dispute resolution systems should help preserve ongoing commercial relationships, particularly in joint ventures and long-term partnerships, where continuity often holds greater value than adversarial outcomes.

Referring to India’s Mediation Act, 2023 and developments in the UK mediation ecosystem, he said there is a strong foundation for building structured and confidential ADR frameworks between the two countries.

Concluding his remarks, Justice Surya Kant said arbitration must remain ‘not a privilege of scale, but an instrument of justice.’

Other speakers at the conference, including Geoffrey Vos, Head of Civil Justice of England and Wales, Deputy High Commissioner Kartik Pande, and representatives from the legal fraternity, highlighted the growing importance of technology, institutional cooperation and efficient legal systems in strengthening commercial confidence between India and the UK.

(KNN Bureau)