Court While Referring Parties To Arbitration Cannot Direct That Arbitral Award Should Be Filed Before It: Jammu & Kashmir High Court

The Jammu & Kashmir High Court ruled that courts referring parties to arbitration under Section 8 cannot mandate award filing before them. Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal held such directions exceed judicial authority under the Arbitration Act. The case involved a construction dispute where the trial court ordered future award submission. The judgment reinforces arbitration's self-contained nature, preventing judicial overreach in the referral stage. This maintains tribunal autonomy while preserving post-award judicial review avenues. The ruling aligns with national arbitration policy promoting minimal court interference in ongoing arbitrations. Legal practitioners welcome this as reducing procedural complications in arbitration references.