Arbitration | Referral Courts Must Not Conduct Intricate Enquiry On Whether Claims Are Time-Barred : Supreme Court Clarifies 'Arif Azim'

The Supreme Court clarified in the Arif Azim judgment that courts must not conduct detailed inquiries into whether claims are time-barred when deciding on arbitration referrals. Instead, the primary focus should be on whether the disputes fall within the arbitration agreement and whether the agreement is valid. This ruling emphasizes that intricate examination of time-barred claims is beyond the scope of preliminary judicial review in arbitration cases. The Court’s stance is aimed at preventing unnecessary delays and ensuring that arbitration proceedings are not hindered by procedural complexities unrelated to the core arbitration agreement.