Bombay HC to have dedicated court for arbitration matters 

THE Bombay High Court will soon have a dedicated court for arbitration matters, chief justice Mohit Shah said on Sunday.
A single court, meant only for arbitration matters, would be set up. Arbitration will not be treated as a part-time business henceforth, he said.
At present, arbitration matters are heard by a single judge only once a week.
Speaking at a conference on proposed amendments to Arbitration and Conciliation Act,1996,he said he was perturbed to learn that 454 applications under the Arbitration Act were pending in the Bombay High Court. These cases will be disposed of within 60 working days from today, he assured.
Justice Dalveer Bhandari of the Supreme Court said new amendments must provide for a time-frame for arbitration hearings. Unless a time frame is maintained, arbitration process cannot acquire credibility, he said.
A panel of retired judges should be formed and arbitrators should be picked only for this panel, Mr Bhandari suggested.

Economic Times, New Delhi, 02-08-2010