In Brief
The appellant, a registered broker, challenged the Delhi High Court's order remanding a Section 34 arbitration award challenge to the District Court for a full trial with evidence and cross-examination. The Supreme Court held that the exclusive jurisdiction clause in the agreement, read with the designated seat of arbitration at Mumbai, vested exclusive jurisdiction solely in Mumbai courts. Further, Section 34 proceedings are summary in nature requiring only the arbitrator's record and any necessary affidavits; framing issues and oral evidence with cross-examination defeat the Act's object of speedy dispute resolution. The Court set aside the High Court's order and upheld the Additional District Judge's rejection of the application as having been filed in the wrong court.
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