IDRC's 'Arbitrate in India Conclave,' 2022, a huge success! (Watch Video)

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29 May 2022

On Saturday, 28^th May 2022, the Indian Dispute Resolution Centre (IDRC) organized ‘Arbitrate in India Conclave, 2022’ at the India International Centre, New Delhi. This event marked the 2^nd anniversary of the IDRC.

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Arjan K. Sikri, Former Judge of the Supreme Court of India & Judge, International Commercial Court, Singapore was among the panellists at the event. Mr. Balbir Singh, Additional Solicitor General; Mr. Tejas Karia, Partner and Arbitrations Head, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and Vanita Bhargava, Partner, Khaitan and Co. were the other panellists of the conclave. Mr. Sanjeev Srivastava, former BBC India Head was the Moderator for the conclave.

Hon’ble Justice AK Sikri stated that, “we need to take small steps. Just in one day’s time we can’t think that the western countries would come and look forward to India as an International hub. So why not start with South Asian countries. We may have good arbitration centres in Singapore, Hong Kong etc. but there is nothing in the 6-7 countries around India. Once we start, they’ll look forward (to Arbitrate in India). If we are able to show our work, we are able to show our mettle, and we are able demonstrate to the world that we are successful, then it would spread to other countries as well.”

Mr. Balbir Singh, ASG, emphasised on the need for having a trained pool of arbitrators to add value to the Indian system, as well as trained representatives, that not only include the Indian Bar but also foreign lawyers coming to India. He lamented the present scenario wherein “we advocates go to the courts and after the court hours we do arbitration, and we may think that we have a separate Arbitration Bar.” He said that we need more specialists like his co-panellists, Mr. Tejas Karia and Ms. Vanita Bhargava. He also said that, “We need more IDRC like Arbitration Centres across India.”

Mr. Tejas Karia talked about need for institutionalisation of Arbitration, use of technology, reduction of approaching courts in Arbitration, except in extreme cases. Emphasising on one major benefit of Institutional arbitration he said that there is no need to go to the court for appointment of arbitrator. He further said that, “I have been advocating that India can never become a hub of international arbitration because India is a very large country with so many diversities and judicial disciplines, and we are comparing ourselves with Singapore, London, Paris, Hong Kong which are cities or small countries.” He said that in the size of India that can never happen. He suggested that we should rather “identify cities in India that can be hub for International Commercial Arbitration, focusing on the cities in which court system is supportive or are arbitration friendly jurisdictions and judges are trained and experienced to handle arbitration matters.”

Ms. Vanita Bhargava noted that the government has been really proactive in making amendments to try to control mischief, and should continue this endeavour. She also mooted the need for having specialised courts dealing specifically with Arbitration cases, as the commercial courts handle other matters as well which take away the time.

About the Event: Arbitrate in India Conclave: Let’s make ‘Resolve in India’ a Reality

The event marks the Second Anniversary of IDRC. We embarked on this wonderful journey in May 2020. HMJ Arjan K. Sikri, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India did the honours. In a short span of time IDRC has accomplished more than 500+ arbitration proceedings and assisted in numerous International and National Arbitrations presided by Retired Hon’ble Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts despite pandemic conditions.

To mark the Anniversary, this Conclave is being organised to bring to the fore our Nation’s strengths and challenges in becoming an International Arbitration Hub. The Conclave will ponder over the theme ’Arbitrate in India’ to strengthen the Govt’s call for ’Resolve in India’.

Apart from former judges of Supreme Court and High Courts and senior advocates, the IDRC panel arbitrators, leading law firms, the PSUs and members of the Bar association also attended the conclave. Entire Event was organised professionally by IDRC’s Board of Advisor Members Tanmaya Mehta, Divyansh Hanu Rathi, Sumedha Sindhu Rathi and Riya Rathi.

Organisers - Indian Dispute Resolution Centre – IDRC

IDRC is an Institutional Arbitration Centre established by the not-for-profit Organisation ‘International Dispute Resolution Council’. IDRC is registered with the Ministry of Commerce and NITI Aayog and empanelled with the Ministry of Law and Justice, GoI. It provides a state-of-the-art institutional environment for online and offline resolution of disputes through Arbitration, Mediation and Conciliation as well as Expert Determination and Early Neutral Evaluation from its Cloud Based inhouse Digital Platform and through its affiliates in all major Cities in India.

In a short span of time, IDRC has accomplished more than 500+ arbitration proceedings and assisted in numerous International and National Arbitrations presided by retired judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts despite pandemic conditions.

Event also saw participation of:

HMJ Sunil Ambwani, former Chief Justice Rajasthan High Court;
HMJ JR Midha and HMJ Vinod Goyal former judges of Delhi High Court;
HMJ Rameshwar Malik former judge of Punjab & Haryana High Court;
Ms. Pinky Anand, Additional Solicitor General of India;
Mr. PK Malhotra, former Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice;
Sh. Sanjay Rathi, Hony. Secretary, Bar Council of Delhi;
Shri SS Rana, former Director General, Excise and Customs.
Entire litigation team of Khaitan & Co. led by Mr. Ajay Bhargawa
Entire litigation team of SNG & Partners
Senior Advocates: Mr. P. Nagesh, Mr. Sushil Salwan, Mr. Ratan Kumar Singh, Col. R. Bala, Ms. Geeta Luthra, Mr. DN Goverdhan, Mr. Ramesh Gupta and ors.
Ms. Anju Rathi Rana and Mr. K Biswal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India
Mr. Mahavir Singh, Judicial Member ITAT
Mr. SS Sirohi, former member Telecom Board
Shri. Ajit Pandey, Member Judicial, PNGRB
Shri. Anil Kapoor, Former Director, ‘Make in India’, PMO
Dr. OP Yadav, Chairman, National Heart Institute
Host of media persons, Senior Bureaucrats and officers of Public Sector Undertakings
And many other dignitaries.