Section 54
Power of judicial authority to refer parties to arbitration.
The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
About this Act
An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to domestic arbitration, international commercial arbitration and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards as also to define the law relating to conciliation and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Notwithstanding anything
contained in Part I or in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), a judicial authority, on being
seized of a dispute regarding a contract made between persons to whom section 53 applies and including
an arbitration agreement, whether referring to present or future differences, which is valid under that
section and capable of being carried into effect, shall refer the parties on the application of either of them
or any person claiming through or under him to the decision of the arbitrators and such reference shall not
prejudice the competence of the judicial authority in case the agreement or the arbitration cannot proceed
or becomes inoperative.