In Brief
The Supreme Court held that the Gujarat Public Works Contract Disputes Arbitration Tribunal, established under the 1992 Act, has jurisdiction to grant interim relief under Section 17 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The two statutes are not inconsistent; rather, Section 17 complements the Tribunal's existing power to issue interim awards. Courts cannot grant interim relief once an arbitral tribunal is constituted unless the statutory remedy would be ineffective. The Tribunal is the compulsory forum for all disputes between the State Government and contractors concerning public works, and can determine whether recovery notices are lawful. Both appeals were allowed, and the High Court's judgments were set aside.
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