When Court Lacks Jurisdiction To Entertain Application U/S 34 Of Arbitration Act, It Cannot Set Aside Award On Merits: Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat High Court has clarified that when reviewing arbitral awards under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, courts cannot reassess the evidence or delve into the merits of the dispute. The court reiterated that its scrutiny is limited to procedural irregularities or fundamental flaws as specified in the Act, rather than acting as an appellate authority to re-evaluate the substantive findings of the arbitrator. This ruling reinforces the principle of minimal judicial intervention in arbitration, promoting the finality of arbitral awards and upholding the parties' chosen method of dispute resolution.