Bombay HC's Justice Manish Pitale says India is not yet a preferred arbitration seat; calls for cultural shift in judiciary and Bar.
India Not Yet Preferred Arbitration Seat: Justice Pitale
Bombay High Court Judge Justice Manish Pitale stated that India does not currently rank as a preferred seat for international commercial arbitration. Delivering a special address at the ICC India Arbitration Conference 2026 in Mumbai, he called for a cultural shift across the judiciary, legislature, and legal profession.
Justice Pitale noted that international parties assess whether a jurisdiction’s legal framework supports minimal judicial intervention, enforceability of awards, and procedural efficiency. He emphasized that while legislative reforms exist, inconsistent judicial attitudes and delays hinder progress.
His remarks echo prior concerns raised by the Supreme Court and Law Commission. For practitioners, the comments signal the need for advocacy and training to align judicial outlooks with pro-arbitration principles under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
