In Brief
A dispute arose between a financial services company and a property licensor over license fees and security deposit refund after the company vacated commercial premises in Mumbai. The licensor invoked an arbitration clause and sought appointment of an arbitrator under the Arbitration Act. The company objected, arguing that the Presidency Small Cause Courts Act gives exclusive jurisdiction to small causes courts for licensor-licensee disputes, making arbitration invalid. The Supreme Court held that courts reviewing arbitrator appointments need only verify an agreement exists—they cannot block arbitration based on a special statute's jurisdiction. Arbitrability questions must be decided by the arbitrator itself. The Court dismissed the appeal and directed arbitration to conclude within six months.
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