Chief Justice of India, Justice BR Gavai, delivered a keynote address at a landmark event co-hosted by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and Trilegal during London International Disputes Week (LIDW) on 6 June 2025.
Speaking on the theme ‘Navigating the Evolving Landscape: The Impact of the 7th Edition of the SIAC Rules on India-Related Arbitrations’, Justice Gavai explored how recent reforms in arbitration can shape dispute resolution in the Indian context.
Opening his remarks with light humour, Justice Gavai complimented the strength of London’s legal traditions and quipped that ‘the tea here is as strong as the legal arguments’.
He extended his gratitude to SIAC and Trilegal for convening an event of such global importance and stressed the relevance of arbitration in a rapidly evolving geopolitical and economic landscape.
Justice Gavai praised the 7th edition of SIAC Rules, in effect since 1 January 2025, for advancing procedural efficiency, cost reduction, and fairness.
He particularly lauded the new streamlined procedure for lower-value disputes, a provision that could benefit India’s small and medium enterprises, traditionally hesitant about arbitration due to high costs.
He also highlighted the rule on ‘Consolidated Proceedings’, which enables multiple arbitrations to be coordinated before a single tribunal, thus saving significant time and resources.
Referencing India’s strong legal and commercial ties with Singapore, Justice Gavai cited the 2023 MoU between the Supreme Courts of both nations and the visit of Singapore’s Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon to India.
He noted Singapore’s neutrality, efficiency, and technological innovation as key reasons why it has emerged as a preferred arbitration hub for Indian parties.
Between 2011 and 2022, Indian parties took part in 1,300 SIAC arbitrations and Indian courts did not overturn a single award.
Justice Gavai appreciated SIAC’s clarity in enabling virtual and hybrid hearings under its revised rules and commended its digital case management platform, ‘SIAC Gateway’.
He also endorsed the SIAC-SIMC Arb-Med-Arb protocol that integrates mediation within arbitration proceedings.
This, he said, offered a confidential and neutral process with enforceable outcomes under the New York Convention, applicable in over 170 countries.
Concluding his address, the Chief Justice urged Indian institutions to draw inspiration from SIAC’s innovations.
He advocated for the creation of a world-class arbitration framework in India, including increasing trained arbitrators and reducing judicial intervention.
He reiterated the relevance of India’s Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, and affirmed that the adoption of such progressive rules would boost investor confidence and enhance India’s appeal as a global arbitration hub.
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