JAMMU AND KASHMIR ARBITRATION ACT 2002

JAMMU AND KASHMIR ARBITRATION ACT, 2002 (1945 A.D.)

Act No. 02 of 2002

10th of June, 1945

An Act to consolidate and amend the Law relating to Arbitration. Whereas it is expedient to consolidate and amend the law relating to arbitration in the Jammu and Kashmir State; It is hereby enacted as follows:-

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S.1 Short title and extent

(1) This Act may be called the Jammu and Kashmir Arbitration Act 2002.

(2) It extends to the whole of the Jammu and Kashmir State.

S.2 Definitions

In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,-

(a) "arbitration agreement" means a written agreement to submit present or future differences to arbitration; whether an arbitrator is named therein or not;
(b) "award" means an arbitration award;
(c) "Court" means a civil Court having jurisdiction to decide the questions forming the subject-matter of the reference, if the same had been the subject-matter of a suit, but does not, except for the purpose of arbitration proceedings under section 21, include a Small Cause Court;
(d) "legal representative" has the meaning assigned to this expression in the Code of Civil procedure, 1977;
(e) "reference" means a reference to arbitration.

S.3 Provisions implied in arbitration agreement

An arbitration agreement, unless a different intention is expressed therein, shall be deemed to include the provisions set out in the First Schedule in so far as they are applicable to the reference.

S.4 Agreement that arbitrators be appointed by, third party

The parties to an arbitration agreement may agree that any reference thereunder shall be to an arbitrator or arbitrators to be appointed by a person designated in the agreement either by name or as the holder for the time being of any office or appointment.

S.5 Authority of appointed arbitrator or umpire irrevocable except by leave of Court

The authority of an appointed arbitrator or umpire shall not be revocable except with the leave of the Court, unless a contrary intention is expressed in the arbitration agreement.

S.6 Arbitration agreement not to be discharged by death of party thereto

(1) An arbitration agreement shall not be discharged by the death of any party thereto, either as respects the deceased or any other party, but shall in such event be enforceable by or against the legal representative, of the deceased.

(2) The authority of an arbitrator shall not be revoked by the death of any party by whom he was appointed.

(3) Nothing in this section shall affect the operation of any law by virtue of which any right of action is extinguished by the death of a person.

S.7 Provisions in case of insolvency

(1) Where it is provided by a term in a contract to which an insolvent is a party that any differences arising thereout or in connection therewith shall be referred to arbitration, the said term shall, if the receiver adopts the contract, be enforceable by or against him so far as it relates to any such differences.

(2) Where a person who has been adjudged an insolvent had, before the commencement of insolvency proceedings, become a party to an arbitration agreement, and any matter to which the agreement applies is required to be determined in connection with, or for the purposes of insolvency proceedings, then, if the case is one to which sub-section (1) does not apply, any other party to the agreement or the receiver may apply to the Court having jurisdiction in the insolvency proceedings for an order directing that the matter in question shall be referred to arbitration in accordance with the agreement and the Court may, if it is of opinion that, having regard to all the

S.8 Power of Court to appoint arbitrator or umpire

(1) In any of the following cases-

(a) where the arbitration agreement provides that the reference shall be to one or more arbitrators to be appointed by consent of the parties, and all the parties do not, alter differences have arisen, concur in the appointment or appointments; or
(b) if an appointed arbitrator or umpire neglects or refuses to act, or is incapable of acting, or dies, and the arbitration agreement does not show that it was intended that the vacancy should not be supplied, and the parties or the arbitrators, as the case may be, do not supply the vacancy; or
(c) where the parties or the arbitrators are required to appoint an umpire and do not appoint him;

any party may serve the other parties or the arbitrators, as the case may be, with a written notice to concur in the appointment or appointments or in supplying the vacancy.

(2) If the appointment is not made within fifteen clear days after the service of the said

S.9 Power to party to appoint new arbitrator, or, in certain cases, a sole arbitrator

Where an arbitration agreement provides that a reference shall be to two arbitrators, one to be appointed by each party, then, unless a different intention is expressed in the agreement,-

(a) if either of the appointed arbitrators neglects or refuses to act, or is incapable of acting, or dies, the party who appointed him may appoint a new arbitrator in his place;
(b) if one party fails to appoint an arbitrator, either originally or by way of substitution as aforesaid, for fifteen clear days after the service by the other party of a notice in writing to make the appointment, such other party having appointed his abitrator before giving the notice, the party who has appointed an arbitrator may appoint that arbitrator to act as sole arbitrator in the reference and his award shall be binding on both parties as if he had been appointed by consent:

Provided that the Court may set aside any appointment as sole arbitrator made under clause (b) and either

S.10 Provisions as to appointment of three or more arbitrators

(1) Where an arbitration agreement provides that a reference shall be to three arbitrators, one to be appointed by each party and the third by the two appointed arbitrators, the agreement shah have effect as if it provided for the appointment of an umpire and not for the appointment of a third arbitrator, by the two arbitrators appointed by the parties.

(2) Where an arbitration agreement provides that a reference shall be to three arbitrators to be appointed otherwise than as mentioned in sub-section (1) the award of the majority shall, unless the arbitration agreement otherwise provides, prevail.

(3) Where an arbitration agreement provides for the appointment of more arbitrators than three, the award of the majority, or if the arbitrators are equally divided in their opinions, the award of the umpire shall, unless the arbitration agreement otherwise provides, prevail.

S.11 Power to Court to remove arbitrators or umpire in certain circumstances

(1) The Court may, on the application of any party to a reference, remove an arbitrator or umpire who fails to use all reasonable despatch, in entering on and proceeding with the reference and making an award.

(2) The Court may remove an arbitrator or umpire who has misconducted himself or the proceedings.

(3) Where an arbitrator or umpire is removed under this section, he shall not be entitled to receive any remuneration in respect of his services.

(4) For the purposes of this section, the expression "proceeding with the reference" includes, in a case where reference to the umpire becomes necessary, giving notice of that fact to the parties and to the umpire.

S.12 Power of Court where arbitrator is removed or his authority revoked

(1) Where the Court removes an umpire who has not entered on the reference or one or more arbitrators (not being all the arbitrators), the Court may, on the application of any party to the arbitration agreement, appoint persons to fill the vacancies.

(2) Where the authority of an arbitrator or arbitrators or an umpire is revoked by leave of the Court, or where the Court removes an umpire who has entered on the reference or a sole arbitrator or all the arbitrators, the Court may, on the application of any party to the arbitration agreement, either-

(a) appoint a person to act as sole arbitrator in the place of the person or persons displaced, or
(b) order that the arbitration agreement shall cease to have effect with respect to the difference referred.

(3) A person appointed under this section as an arbitrator or umpire shall have the like power to act in the reference and to make an award as if he had been appointed in accordance with the

S.13 Powers of arbitrator

The arbitrators or umpire shall, unless a different intention is expressed in the agreement have power to-

(a) administer oath to the parties and witnesses appearing;
(b) state a special case for the opinion of the Court, on any question of law involved, or state the award, wholly or in part, in the form of a special case of such question for the opinion of the Court;
(c) make the award conditional or in the alternative;
(d) correct in an award any clerical mistake or error arising from an accidental slip or omission;
(e) administer to any party to the arbitration such interrogatories as may, in the opinion of the arbitrators or umpire, be necessary.

S.14 Award to be signed and filed

(1) Where the arbitrators or umpire have made their award, they shall sign it and shall give notice in writing to the parties of the making and signing thereof and of the amount of fees and charges payable in respect of the arbitration and award.

(2) The arbitrators or umpire shall, at the request of any party to the arbitration agreement or any person claiming under such party or if so directed by the Court and upon payment of the fees and charges due in respect of the arbitration and award and of the costs and charges of filing the award, cause the award or a signed copy of it, together with any depositions and documents which may have been taken and proved before them, to be filed in Court, and the Court shall thereupon give notice to the parties of the filing of the award.

(3) Where the arbitrators or umpire state a special case under clause (b) of section 13, the Court, after giving notice to he parties and hearing them, shall pronounce its opinion thereon and su

S.15 Power of Court to modify award

The Court may by order modify or correct an award-

(a) where it appears that a part of the award is upon a matter not referred to arbitration and such part can be separated from the other part end does not affect the decision on the matter referred; or
(b) where the award is imperfect in form or contains any obvious error which can be amended without affecting such decision; or
(c) where the award contains a clerical mistake or an error arising from an accidental slip or omission.

S.16 Power to remit award

(1) The Court may from time to time remit the award or any matter referred to arbitration to the arbitrators or umpire for reconsideration upon such terms as it thinks fit-

(a) where the award has left undetermined any of the matters referred to arbitration, or where it determines any matter not referred to arbitration and such matter cannot be separated without affecting the determination of the matters referred; or
(b) where the award is so indefinite as to be incapable of execution; or
(c) where an objection to the legality of the award is apparent upon the face of it.

(2) Where an award is remitted under sub-section (1) the Court shall fix the time within which the arbitrator or umpire shall submit his decision to the Court:

Provided that any time so fixed may be extended by subsequent order of the Court.

(3) An award remitted under sub-section (1) shall become void on the failure of the arbitrator or umpire to reconsid

S.17 Judgment in terms of award

Where the Court sees no cause to remit the award or any of the matters referred to arbitration for reconsideration or to set aside the award, the Court shall after the time for making an application to set aside award has expired, or such application having been made, after refusing it, proceed to pronounce judgment according to the award, and upon the judgment so pronounced a decree shall follow, and no appeal shall lie from such decree except on the ground that it is in excess of, or not otherwise in accordance with, the award.

S.18 Power of Court to pass interim orders

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 17, at any time after the filing of the award, whether notice of the filing has been served or not, upon being satisfied by affidavit or otherwise that a party has taken or is about to take steps to defeat, delay or obstruct the execution of any decree that may be passed upon the award, or that speedy execution of the award is just and necessary, the Court may pass such interim orders as it deems necessary.

(2) Any person against whom such interim orders have been passed may show cause against such orders, and the Court after hearing parties, may pass such further orders as it deems necessary and just.

S.19 Power to supersede arbitration where award becomes void or is set aside

Where an award has become void under sub-section (3) of section 16 or has been set aside, the Court may by order supersede the reference and shall thereupon order that the arbitration agreement shall cease to have effect with respect to the difference referred.

S.20 Application to file in Court arbitration agreement

(1) Where any persons have entered into an arbitration agreement before the institution of any suit with respect to the subject-matter of the agreement or any part of it, and where difference has arisen to which the agreement applies, they or any of them, instead of proceeding under Chapter 11, may apply to a Court having jurisdiction in the matter to which the agreement relates, that the agreement be filed in Court.

(2) The application shall be in writing and shall be numbered and registered as a suit between one or more of the parties interested or claiming to be interested as plaintiff or plaintiffs and the remainder as defendant or defendants, if the application has been presented by all the parties, or if other--wise between the applicant as plaintiff and the other parties as defendants.

(3) On such application being made, the Court shall direct notice thereof to be given to all parties to the agreement other than the applicants, requiring them to show cause with

S.21 Parties to suit may apply for order of reference

Where in any suit all the parties interested agree that any matter in difference between them in the suit shall be referred to arbitration, they may at any time before judgment is pronounced apply in writing to the Court for an order of reference.

S.22 Appointment of arbitrator

The arbitrator shall be appointed in such manner as may be agreed upon between the parties.

S.23 Order of reference

(1) The Court shall, by order, refer to the arbitrator the matter in difference which he is required to determine, and shall in order specify such time as it thinks reasonable for making the award.

(2) Where the matter is referred to arbitration, the Court shall not save in the manner and to the extent provided in this Act, deal with such matter in the suit.

S.24 Reference to arbitration by some of the parties

Where some only of the parties to a suit apply to have the matters in difference between them referred to arbitration in accordance with, and in the manner provided by section 21, the Court may, if it thinks fit, so refer such matters to arbitration (provided that the same can be separated from the rest of the subject-matter of the suit) in the manner provided in that section, but that the suit shall continue so far as it relates to the parties who have not joined in the said application and to matters not contained in the said reference as if no such application had been made, and an award made in pursuance of such a reference shall be binding only on the parties who have joined in the application.

S.25 Provisions applicable to arbitrations under this Chapter

The provisions of the other Chapters, shall, so far as they can be made applicable, apply to arbitrations under this Chapter:

Provided that the Court may, in any of the circumstances mentioned in sections 8, 10, 11 and 12, instead of filling up the vacancies or making the appointments, make an order superseding the arbitration and proceed with the suit, and where the Court makes an order superseding the arbitration under section 19, it shall proceed with the suit.

S.26 Application of Chapter

Save as otherwise provided in this Act, the provisions of this Chapter shall apply to all arbitrations,

S.27 Power of arbitrators to make an interim award

(1) Unless a different intention appears in the arbitration agreement, the arbitrators or umpire may, if they think fit, make an interim award.

(2) all references in this Act to an award shall include references to an interim award made under sub-section (1).

S.28 Power to Court only to enlarge time for making award

(1) The Court may, if it thinks fit, whether the time for making the award has expired or not and whether the award has been made or not, enlarge from time to time the time for making the award.

(2) Any provision in an arbitration agreement whereby the arbitrators or umpire may, except with the consent of all the parties to the agreement, enlarge the time for making the award, shall be void and of no effect.

S.29 Interest on awards

Where and in so far as an award is for the payment of money the Court may in the decree order interest, from the date of decree at such rate as the Court deems reasonable, to be paid on the principal sum as adjudged by the award and confirmed by the decree.

S.30 Grounds for setting aside award

An award shall not be set aside except on one or more of the following grounds, namely:-

(a) that the arbitrator or umpire has misconducted himself or the proceedings;
(b) that an award has been made after the issue of an order by the Court superseding the arbitration or after arbitration proceedings have become invalid under section 35;
(c) that the award has been improperly procured or is otherwise invalid.

S.31 Jurisdiction

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, an award may be filed in any Court having jurisdiction in the matter to which the reference relates.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force and save as otherwise provided in this Act, all questions regarding the validity, effect or existence of an award or an arbitration agreement between the parties to the agreement or persons claiming under them shall be decided by the Court in which the award under the agreement has been, or may be, filed, and by no other Court.

(3) All applications regarding the conduct of arbitration proceedings or otherwise arising out of such proceedings shall be made to the Court where the award has been, or may be, filed, and to no other Court.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Act or in any other law for the time being in force, where in any reference any application under this Act has been made in a Court competent to entert

S.32 Bar to suit contesting arbitration agreement or award

Notwithstanding any law for the time being in force, no suit shall lie on any ground whatsoever for a decision upon the existence, effect or validity of an arbitration agreement or award, nor shall any arbitration agreement or award be set aside, amended, modified or in any way affected otherwise than as provided in this Act.

S.33 Arbitration agreement or award to be contested by application

Any party to an arbitration agreement or any person claiming under him desiring to challenge the existence or validity of an arbitration agreement or an award or to have the effect of either determined shall apply to the Court and the Court shall decide the question on affidavits:

Provided that where the Court deems it just and expedient, it may set down the application for hearing on other evidence also, and it may pass such orders for discovery and particulars as it may do in a suit.

S.34 Tower to stay legal proceedings where there is an arbitration agreement

Where any party to an arbitration agreement or any person claiming under him commences any legal proceedings against any other party to the agreement or any person claiming under him in respect of any matter agreed to be referred, any party to such legal proceedings may, at any time before filing a written statement or taking any other steps in the proceedings, apply to the judicial authority before which the proceedings, are pending to stay the proceedings; and if satisfied that there is no sufficient reason why the matter should not be referred in accordance with the arbitration agreement and that the applicant was, at the time when the proceedings were commenced, and still remains, ready and willing to do all things necessary to the proper conduct of the arbitration, such authority may make an order staying the proceedings.

S.35 Effect of legal proceedings on arbitration

(1) No reference nor an award shall be rendered invalid by reason only of the commencement of the legal proceedings upon the Subject-matter of the reference, but when legal proceedings upon the whole of the subject-matter of the reference have been commenced between all the parties to the reference and a notice thereof has been given to the arbitrators or umpire, all further proceeding sin the pending reference shall, unless a stay of proceedings is granted under section 34, be invalid.

(2) In this section the expression "parties to the reference" includes any persons claiming under any of the parties and litigating under the same title.

S.36 Power of Court where arbitration agreement is ordered not to apply to a particular difference, to order that a provision making an award a condition precedent to an action shall not apply to such difference

Where it is provided (whether in the arbitration agreement or otherwise) that an award under an arbitration agreement shall be a condition precedent to the bringing of an action with respect to any matter to which the agreement applies, the Court, if it orders (whether under this Act or any other law) that the agreement shall cease to have effect as regards any particular difference, may further order that the said provision shall also cease to have effect as regards that difference.

S.37 Limitations

(1) All the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Limitation Act (IX of 1995) shall apply to the arbitrations as they apply to proceedings in Court.

(2) Notwithstanding any term in an arbitration agreement to the effect that no cause of action shall accrue in respect of any matter required by the agreement to be referred until an award is made under the agreement, a cause of action, shall, for the purpose of limitation, be deemed to have accrued in respect of any such matter at the time when it would have accrued but for that term in the agreement.

(3) For the purposes of this section and of the Jammu and Kashmir Limitation Act (IX of 1995), an arbitration shall be deemed to be commenced when one party to the arbitration agreement serves on the other parties thereto a notice requiring the appointment of an arbitrator, or where the arbitration agreement provides that the reference shall be to a person named or designated in the agreement, requiring that the difference be

S.38 Disputes as to arbitrator's remuneration or cost

(1) If in any case an arbitrator or umpire refuses to deliver his award except on payment of the fees demanded by him, the Court may, on an application in this behalf, order that the arbitrator or umpire shall deliver the award to the applicant on payment into Court by the applicant of the fees demanded, and shall after such enquiry, if any, as it thinks fit, further order that out of the money so paid into Court there shall be paid to the arbitrator or umpire by way of fees such sum as the Court may consider reasonable and that the balance of the money, if any, shall be refunded to the applicant.

(2) An application under sub-section (1) may be made by any party to the reference unless the fees demanded have been fixed by written agreement between him and the arbitrator or umpire, and the arbitrator or umpire shall be entitled to appear and be heard on any such application.

(3) The Court may make such orders as it thinks fit respecting the costs of an arbitration wher

S.39 Appealable orders

(1) An appeal shall lie from the following orders passed under this Act (and from no others) to the Court authorized by law to hear appeals from original decrees of the Court passing the order:-

An order:-

(i) superseding an arbitration;
(ii) on an award stated in the form of a special case;
(iii) modifying or correcting an award;
(iv) filing or refusing to file an arbitration agreement;
(v) staying or refusing to stay legal proceedings when there is an arbitration agreement;
(vi) setting aside or refusing to set aside an award:

Provided that the provisions of this section shall not apply to any order passed by a Small Cause Court.

(2) No second appeal shall lie from an order passed in appeal under this section, but nothing in this section shall affect or take away any right to appeal to His Highness.

S.40 Small Cause Court not have jurisdiction over arbitrations save arbitrations in suits before it

A Small Cause Court shall have no jurisdiction over any arbitration proceedings or over any application arising thereout save on application made under section 21.

S.41 Procedure and Powers of Court

Subject to the provisions of this Act and of rules made thereunder,-

(a) the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure (X of 1977), shall apply to all proceedings before the Court, and to all appeals, under this Act, and
(b) the Court shall have, for the purpose of, and in relation to, arbitration proceedings, the same power of making orders in respect of any of the matters set out in the Second Schedule as it has been for the purpose of, and in relation to, any proceedings before the Court:

Provided that nothing in clause (b) shall be taken to prejudice any power which may be vested in an arbitrator or umpire for making orders with respect to any of such matters.

S.42 Service of notice by party or arbitrator

Any notice required by this Act to be served otherwise than through the Court by a party to an arbitration agreement on by an arbitrator of umpire shall be servant in the manner provided in the arbitration agreement, or if there is no such provision, either-

(a) by delivering it to the person on whom it is to be served, or
(b) by sending it by post in a letter addressed to that person at his usual or last known place of abode or business in State and registered under Chapter VI of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898.

S.43 Powers of Court to issue processes for appearance before arbitrator

(1) The Court shall issue the same processes to the parties and witness whom the arbitrator or umpire desires to examine as the Court may issue in suits tried before it.

(2) Persons failing to attend in accordance with such process, or making any other default, or refusing to give their evidence, or guilty of any contempt to the arbitrator or umpire during the investigation of the reference, shall be subject to the like disadvantages, penalties and punishments by order of the Court on the representation of the arbitrator or umpire as they would incur for the like offences in suits tried before the Court.

(3) In this section the expression "processes" includes summons and commissions for the examination of witnesses and summonses to produce documents.

S.44 Power to High Court to make rules

The High Court may make rules consistent with this Act as to-

(a) the filing of awards and all proceedings consequent thereon or incidental thereto;
(b) the filing and hearing of special cases and all proceedings consequent thereon or incidental thereto;
(c) the staying of any suit or proceeding in contravention of an arbitration agreement;
(d) the forms to be used for the purposes of this Act;
(c) generally, all proceedings in Court under this Act.

S.45 Government to be bound

The provisions of this Act shall be binding on the Government.

S.46 Application of Act to statutory arbitrations

The provisions of this Act, except sub-section (1) of section 6 and sections 7, 12 and 37, shall apply to every arbitration under any other enactment for the time being in force, as if the arbitration were pursuant to an arbitration agreement and as if that other enactment were an arbitration agreement, except in so far as this Act is inconsistent with that other enactment or with any rules made thereunder.

S.47 Act to apply to all arbitrations

Subject to the provisions of section 46, and save in so far as is otherwise provided by any law for the time being in force, the provisions of this Act shall apply to all arbitrations and to all proceedings thereunder;

Provided that an arbitration award otherwise obtained may with the consent of all the parties interested be taken into consideration as a compromise or adjustment of a suit by any Court before which the suit is pending.

S.48 Saving for pending references

The provisions of this Act shall not apply to any reference pending at the commencement of this Act, to which the law in force immediately before the commencement of this Act shall, notwithstanding any repeal effected by this Act, continue to apply.

S.49 Repeals and amendments

(1) The enactments specified in the Third Schedule are hereby repealed to the extent mentioned therein.

(2) The enactments specified in the Fourth Schedule are amended to the extent and in the manner mentioned therein.