Legal Updates 13 October 2026
India Supreme Court Clarifies Arbitration Seat Selection
India’s Supreme Court, in a bench of Justices Manoj Misra and Vijay Bishnoi, ruled that when an arbitration agreement cites two possible seats, the exclusive jurisdiction clause can definitively determine the juridical seat, overriding the ambiguity in the arbitration clause. The decision provides clarity for parties drafting arbitration agreements, emphasizing that exclusive jurisdiction provisions will prevail in seat determination disputes, ensuring enforceability under Indian law.
The Supreme Court of India, through Justices Manoj Misra and Vijay Bishnoi, held that an exclusive jurisdiction clause can settle the arbitration seat even if the arbitration clause lists two locations.
- Clarifies that the exclusive jurisdiction provision prevails over ambiguous arbitration clauses.
- Helps parties draft clearer agreements and reduces litigation over seat selection.
- Aligns arbitration practice with enforceable Indian legal standards.
[Read the full judgment] (https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://lawtrend.in/where-arbitration-agreement-mentions-two-places-exclusive-jurisdiction-clause-can-determine-juridical-seat-supreme-court/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyHGVlOTliNGFjYjlkZDQyNzA6Y29tOmVuOklOOlI&usg=AOvVaw32KHFKw0ViPZVFGGdIJy1c)
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