IDRC’s 4th Arbitration Conclave 2025 Champions Institutional Arbitration as the Future
(Judicial Quest News Network)
Delhi, 6, November, 2025 – The IDRC’s 4th Arbitration in India Conclave 2025 was successfully held at the India International Centre, New Delhi, bringing together eminent judges, legal experts, and policymakers to discuss “Autonomy and Accountability in Arbitration: Institutional Arbitration is the Way Forward.”
Hon’ble Union Minister for Law and Justice, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, spotlighted the government’s reform-driven vision for ADR, stating that “Arbitration, Mediation, and Conciliation are essential tools for strengthening India’s justice delivery and economic growth.” He cited the Mediation Act, 2023 and upcoming amendments to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act as key initiatives to make India a global arbitration hub.
Shri Meghwal reflected on India’s cultural heritage by mentioning “Lord Krishna’s mediation in the Mahabharata,” emphasizing the deep-rooted tradition of dispute resolution through dialogue and urging institutions to ensure accessibility, affordability, and integrity in arbitration.
In his valedictory address, Hon’ble Justice Manmohan of the Supreme Court called for a transparent and predictable institutional arbitration system, praising the Indian Dispute Resolution Centre (IDRC) for its achievements, including over 3,000 arbitrations in five years. He stressed that “Courts must act as facilitators, not barriers, to arbitration,” urging limited judicial interference to preserve the essence of alternative dispute resolution.
Justice Manmohan advocated for a temporary bar on ad hoc arbitrations to strengthen institutional arbitration and called for strict enforcement timelines under Sections 34 and 37 of the Arbitration Act. He also urged reconsideration of the Finance Ministry’s circular limiting arbitration to disputes below Rs. 10 Crore, asserting that “the Government must remain a part of the arbitration movement, not apart from it.”
The panel discussion, moderated by Dr Shashwat Bajpai, saw unanimous agreement among panellists like Mr S.D. Sanjay, Ms Anuradha Dutt, Mr Ayush Agarwala, and Ms Shruti Sabharwal on the superiority of institutional arbitration over ad hoc proceedings due to its quality, neutrality, and procedural discipline.
Ms Anuradha Dutt pointed out that “India can only become a true arbitration hub if it combines institutional discipline with a predictable judiciary,” while Mr Sanjay emphasised that institutional arbitration “helps prevent arbitral fee abuse, avoid delays and promote fairness.” Ms Shruti Sabharwal and Mr Agarwala highlighted ethical accountability, efficiency, and digital adoption as crucial for the future.
Ved Prakash Sharma, Co-Chairman of Bar Council of India, welcomed the growing role of arbitration, crediting the collaboration between BCI and IDRC for promoting awareness and reforms in India’s arbitration ecosystem.
As a not-for-profit institution registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and empanelled with the Ministry of Law and Justice, IDRC continues to champion effective, credible, and technology-driven ADR, cementing India’s position as a global dispute resolution hub.
