Coercion In Disputes Must Be Examined By Arbitral Tribunal, Referral Court's Jurisdiction Limited By Section 11(6A): Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court ruled that the examination of coercion in disputes must be done by the arbitral tribunal. The court's jurisdiction under Section 11(6A) of the Arbitration Act is limited to verifying the existence of an arbitration agreement. Nafees Ahmed, having completed contracts for construction projects in Delhi, sought arbitration for unpaid bills. The court appointed Senior Advocate P.V. Dinesh as the arbitrator, emphasizing that issues of coercion and discharge by accord must be addressed by the tribunal.