PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant called for strengthening Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to support the ambitious goals of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is expected to boost bilateral trade by nearly USD 34 billion annually.
Addressing the 4th International Conference on “Arbitrating Indo-UK Commercial Disputes” organised by the Indian Council of Arbitration (ICA) recently, Kant said that trade agreements alone cannot sustain economic partnerships without a credible dispute resolution framework. “Ambitions are realised in contracts, not in communiqués,” he said, stressing the need for fair, affordable and time-bound resolution of commercial disputes. He cautioned that ADR systems must serve not only large corporations but also fintech firms, digital platforms and mid-sized businesses, ensuring a level playing field for all. The Chief Justice also proposed a joint Indo-UK arbitrator accreditation programme and specialised arbitration mechanisms for technology-related disputes.
Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice of England and Wales, highlighted the growing role of technology and artificial intelligence in dispute resolution. Kartik Pande, Deputy High Commissioner of India to the UK, Brett Dixon, Vice President of The Law Society of England and Wales, Dr NG Khaitan, President, ICA, and Arun Chawla, Director General, ICA, also addressed the conference.
