Act Number: 26

Act Name: The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996

Year: 1996

Enactment Date: 1996-08-16

Long Title: 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.

Ministry: Ministry of Law and Justice

Department: Department of Legal Affairs

Section 28: Rules applicable to substance of dispute.
    (1) Where the place of arbitration is situate in India,—
         (a) in an arbitration other than an international commercial arbitration, the arbitral tribunal shall decide the dispute submitted to arbitration in accordance with the substantive law for the time being in force in India;
         (b) in international commercial arbitration,—
             (i) the arbitral tribunal shall decide the dispute in accordance with the rules of law designated by the parties as applicable to the substance of the dispute;
             (ii) any designation by the parties of the law or legal system of a given country shall be construed, unless otherwise expressed, as directly referring to the substantive law of that country and not to its conflict of laws rules;
             (iii) failing any designation of the law under clause (a) by the parties, the arbitral tribunal shall apply the rules of law it considers to be appropriate given all the circumstances surrounding the dispute.
     (2) The arbitral tribunal shall decide ex aequo et bono or as amiable compositeur only if the parties have expressly authorised it to do so.
     1[(3) While deciding and making an award, the arbitral tribunal shall, in all cases, take into account the terms of the contract and trade usages applicable to the transaction.]
Notes:
1. Subs. by Act 3 of 2016, s. 14, for sub-section (3) (w.e.f. 23-10-2015).
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