CJI Surya Kant Inaugurates Chandigarh International Arbitration Centre

Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant on Saturday inaugurated the Chandigarh International Arbitration Centre (CIAC) at the launch of the first edition of India International Disputes Week (IIDW) 2026 in Chandigarh.

The inauguration ceremony, is going on at Hyatt Regency, marked the formal commencement of the five-day disputes conference scheduled from March 7 to March 11, bringing together judges, arbitrators, legal practitioners, policymakers, corporate counsel and academics from India and abroad.

Several members of the judiciary and legal fraternity attended the inaugural event, including Supreme Court judges Justice Rajesh Bindal, Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, and Justice P.K. Mishra. The event was also attended by Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Sheel Nagu, judges of the High Court, Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, Attorney General for India R. Venkataramani, retired judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, senior advocates and legal professionals.

Arbitration Centre Launched Under Punjab & Haryana High Court

The newly inaugurated Chandigarh International Arbitration Centre has been established under the aegis of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and is envisioned as a professionally administered institutional platform for the resolution of domestic and international commercial disputes through arbitration.

According to organisers, the Centre aims to facilitate efficient, transparent and cost-effective dispute resolution while adopting modern administrative practices and technology-enabled processes. It is expected to promote structured and time-bound arbitration proceedings aligned with international standards and contribute to strengthening the framework for institutional arbitration in India.

International Disputes Week

India International Disputes Week 2026 is designed as a national-international platform to foster dialogue between the Indian and global legal communities on emerging developments in litigation, arbitration, mediation and cross-border dispute resolution.

The theme of the opening day is “India's Cross-Border Disputes Services: 2026–2030 Outlook for Arbitration, Litigation & Mediation.”

Two panel discussions will be held as part of the inaugural programme.

The first panel, titled “India's Evolving Influence in the Global Legal Architecture,” features Justice Rajesh Bindal, Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi and Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain, alongside international practitioners including David Josse KC (United Kingdom) and Charan Sandhu, Partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (United States). The session will be moderated by Kunal Vajani.

The second panel discussion, “India at the Crossroads: Shaping the Next Decade of Conflict Resolution,” included Justice Sheel Nagu, Justice Pankaj Jain, Senior Advocates Dr. Balram Gupta and Chetan Mittal, Prof. (Dr.) Dilip Ukey, Vice-Chancellor of Maharashtra National Law University, and UK-based barrister Irvinder Bakshi. The discussion will be moderated by Tarun Nangia.

International Participation

The event has drawn nearly 50 international delegates, including judges, arbitrators and legal practitioners from the United Kingdom, United States, Singapore, Canada, France and other jurisdictions.

Over the course of the next five days, the programme will feature keynote addresses, expert panels and practice-oriented sessions focusing on international arbitration and cross-border commercial disputes.

The launch of the Chandigarh International Arbitration Centre alongside the commencement of India International Disputes Week 2026 is expected to strengthen Chandigarh's position as an emerging hub for arbitration, mediation and international legal dialogue, while supporting India's broader efforts to enhance its global standing in dispute resolution.