Law Ministry considering amendments to Arbitration Act; calls for details of cases involving govt

The Department of Legal Affairs under the Union Ministry of Law and Justice has directed all secretaries of the Government of India to furnish data on pending and closed arbitration matters involving the Union of India as a party. This request is part of the Ministry’s efforts to consider further amendments to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act to strengthen the country’s arbitration ecosystem. The requested data includes details such as the value involved, the seat of arbitration, the number of advocates engaged, their names, and the fees paid. The Ministry aims to gather comprehensive information to assess the current state of arbitration involving the government and identify areas for improvement. This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of arbitration as a dispute resolution mechanism. The data collection is expected to provide valuable insights into the challenges and successes of arbitration cases involving the Union of India.