CJI Surya Kant to launch Chandigarh International Arbitration Centre on March 7
As the seat of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the city offers access to an experienced pool of jurists in a neutral, well-planned setting
Chandigarh will formally join India’s growing network of recognised arbitration centres on March 7, when Chief Justice of India Surya Kant launches Chandigarh International Arbitration Centre (CIAC). The event marks the CJI’s first major interaction with the Bar after elevation in November last — a symbolic homecoming to the high court where he once served as a judge.
The launch coincides with the first edition of India International Disputes Week 2026 (IIDW), scheduled from March 7 to 11. Organised by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the event is expected to witness an in-person participation of more than 50 international speakers from the USA, the UK, Singapore, Canada, France and other countries. Conceived as a global, non-profit platform, IIDW will bring together judges, arbitral institutions, senior counsel, policymakers and academics to deliberate on arbitration, litigation reform and emerging dispute-resolution technologies.
CJI Surya Kant’s programme includes a seminar at the high court, where he will address the Bar, followed by the inauguration of the high court library. The CJI will also flag off ‘Women’s Day Walkathon’ and plantation drive on March 8 from Sukhna Lake (Police Post) to Open Hand Monument.
Established under the supervision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, CIAC is a specialised, high-level body conceived as a structured alternative to “ad hoc” arbitration. It offers professionally administered, time-bound arbitration — domestic and international — under a defined rules-based framework.
CJI Surya Kant says: “The true strength of a justice system lies not only in adjudication, but in its ability to facilitate fair, timely, and effective resolution of disputes. Initiatives such as India International Disputes Week, being held in Chandigarh in 2026, encourage dialogue, capacity-building, and institutional strengthening — all essential to deepening the rule of law.”
Chief Justice Sheel Nagu is CIAC’s patron, while the organising committee includes Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra, Justice Suvir Sehgal, Justice Jasgurpreet Singh Puri, Justice Vinod S. Bhardwaj, and Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya.
Chandigarh’s selection as an arbitral seat blends judicial stature with efficiency. As the seat of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the city offers access to an experienced pool of jurists in a neutral, well-planned setting. With dedicated facilities, international connectivity and comparatively lower costs and congestion than metropolitan hubs, it positions itself as a practical dispute-resolution centre for North India.
CIAC will administer a broad spectrum of matters, including corporate and commercial disputes, trade and investment claims, construction and engineering contracts, maritime issues, insurance, intellectual property, technology, and banking and finance disputes. As an independent and neutral institution, it will not represent parties or render legal advice.
The establishment of CIAC comes amid increasingly complex cross-border transactions, infrastructure growth and technology-driven contracts.
CIAC’s framework provides for administration of domestic and international arbitrations, appointment and facilitation of arbitrators, a curated and periodically reviewed panel, structured case management, emergency arbitration for urgent interim relief, and online dispute resolution mechanisms.
Chief Justice Nagu says: “The High Court of Punjab and Haryana has consistently encouraged efficiency and innovation in dispute resolution. As Chandigarh hosts India International Disputes Week 2026, it presents an opportunity to further position the city as a progressive centre for legal dialogue and institutional growth.”
