Objection to Tribunal’s Jurisdiction U/S 16 of Arbitration Act Raised Before/At Time of Statement of Defence; Later Objection Prohibited: Himachal Pradesh HC

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has ruled that objections to a tribunal's jurisdiction under Section 16 of the Arbitration Act must be raised before or at the time of the statement of defence. Any objections raised later are prohibited. The court emphasized that this provision aims to ensure timely resolution of jurisdictional issues and prevent undue delays in arbitration proceedings. This ruling reinforces the importance of procedural compliance in arbitration, encouraging parties to raise jurisdictional challenges early in the process to facilitate efficient dispute resolution.