Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said India must build credible dispute resolution systems to support its expanding global economic role. He stressed that strong arbitration and mediation institutions are essential to ensure investor confidence and resolve cross-border commercial disputes.
Chandigarh: The Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, said that India is entering an important stage in its legal and economic growth where the country must establish itself as a reliable global centre for resolving international commercial disputes.
He made these remarks while delivering the keynote address at the inauguration of the Chandigarh International Arbitration Centre (CIAC) and the first edition of India International Disputes Week 2026 (IIDW) in Chandigarh.
Addressing a gathering of jurists, policymakers, and legal professionals, the Chief Justice said that as India’s presence in global trade continues to grow, it must also build strong and trustworthy institutions to resolve disputes that arise in international commercial dealings.
He explained that the next phase of India’s development will depend not only on economic progress but also on how credible and efficient the country’s legal system is in resolving international business conflicts.
“The question before us is not merely whether India can participate in global commerce, but whether it can sustain it when disagreements inevitably arise,”
he said.
The Chief Justice pointed out that in the modern global economy, disputes are a natural outcome of growing trade and investment. He said that disagreements between businesses should not be seen as a weakness but as an unavoidable part of economic activity.
“In a mature economy, disputes are not avoided. They are resolved with credibility,”
he said.
According to him, international investors usually ask two key questions before investing in any country: where a dispute will be resolved and whether the legal system will provide fair protection to their investments.
Justice Surya Kant acknowledged that India’s arbitration framework had earlier faced criticism from the international community, mainly due to delays in proceedings and excessive judicial intervention.
However, he noted that several legal and judicial reforms in the past decade have significantly improved the country’s arbitration ecosystem. He highlighted that amendments to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996 have introduced stricter timelines, strengthened neutrality standards for arbitrators, and clearly defined the limits of court interference in arbitral proceedings.
He also noted that Indian courts have gradually adopted the principle of minimal judicial intervention while ensuring fairness and compliance with the principles of natural justice.
“Credibility is not measured by the elegance of a statute but by the confidence it inspires in practice,”
he observed.
He added that investors ultimately evaluate a legal system based on whether arbitration awards are enforced reliably, arbitrators are appointed in a neutral manner, and procedural timelines are respected.
The Chief Justice also urged the newly inaugurated Chandigarh International Arbitration Centre to develop into a globally respected institution rather than remaining only an administrative body.
He said that if CIAC maintains neutrality, efficiency, and procedural integrity, it can play a major role in strengthening India’s position as a dependable destination for international arbitration.
“If it does so, it will not merely serve this region but strengthen India’s standing as a trusted jurisdiction for global dispute resolution,”
he noted.
Apart from arbitration, Justice Surya Kant also emphasised the importance of mediation as an effective method of resolving disputes in modern legal systems.
Referring to the Mediation Act 2023, he said that the law has given statutory recognition and enforceability to mediation as a dispute resolution mechanism.
“Mediation enables resolution without rupture,”
he remarked.
He explained that many businesses prefer mediation because it helps resolve disputes while preserving commercial relationships and ensuring that business operations remain viable instead of merely determining legal rights.
Speaking about India International Disputes Week, the Chief Justice described the event as an important platform for dialogue among legal experts and institutions. He said the initiative should grow beyond a ceremonial gathering and become a serious forum for meaningful discussions on the future of dispute resolution in India.
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The week-long event will feature discussions on several key topics, including arbitration, mediation, litigation, digital evidence, third-party funding, and institutional governance.
Concluding his address, Justice Surya Kant emphasised that the real success of India’s dispute resolution framework will not be judged by the number of laws enacted or arbitration centres established. Instead, it will depend on how consistently these institutions perform and how much confidence they inspire among global investors and businesses.
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