Supreme Court Deliberates on Forged Arbitration Agreements in Rajia Begum v. Barnali Mukherjee Case. INTRODUCTION In March 2026, the Supreme Court of India drew a line that every arbitration practitioner must understand. In Rajia Begum v. Barnali Mukherjee & Ors.  (2026 INSC 106), The Court ruled that when a party alleges the arbitration agreement itself is forged, not merely that a fraud occurred within the underlying contract that no arbitrator can be appointed and no refer

The Supreme Court clarifies the precise commencement of arbitration proceedings, providing much-needed guidance. INTRODUCTION There is a deceptively simple question at the heart of many arbitration disputes in India: when, exactly, does the arbitration begin? It sounds straightforward. But for banks, NBFCs, and corporate litigants holding a pre-arbitration court order under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, getting this date wrong can cost them everythi

Supreme Court Clarifies: Arbitrator Substitution Not Automatic Post-Mandate Expiry under Section 29A, Outlining Judicial Powers. Introduction Time-bound arbitration was introduced in India with the objective of curbing delays and improving the efficiency of arbitral proceedings. Section 29A of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, inserted by the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2015, mandates the completion of arbitral proceedings within a prescribed perio

Supreme Court Decision on Forgery and Fraud: Clarifying Court Involvement Before Arbitration Proceedings. INTRODUCTION The Supreme Court of India, in Rajia Begum v. Barnali Mukherjee & Ors.  (2026 INSC 106), has delivered a significant and clarificatory judgment on the interplay between allegations of forgery, fraud, and the doctrine of arbitrability under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The Court was confronted with a situation where the same High Court, on ident

Supreme Court Clarifies: Only Civil Courts Can Extend Arbitral Tribunal Mandates Under Section 29A. Only the Civil Court of Original Jurisdiction Can Extend the Mandate of an Arbitral Tribunal under Section 29A: Supreme Court Settles the Law Questions of Law Referred to the Division Bench The Supreme Court in Jagdeep Chowgule v. Sheela Chowgule & Ors.  (2026 INSC 92) was called upon to resolve a significant jurisdictional controversy that had resulted in inconsistent approach