A Practitioner's Casebook on The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996

This practitioner's casebook on the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 is a comprehensive and practice-oriented resource designed for legal professionals, arbitrators, corporate counsel, and those preparing for competitive legal examinations. Authored by Adv. Navod Prasannan, the book provides a structured and practical approach to understanding domestic arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 through real-world applications, procedural guidance, and drafting insights.

The book is divided into two detailed parts that systematically cover the complete lifecycle of domestic arbitration. Part I focuses on the arbitration process from the formation of the arbitration agreement through the conduct of proceedings and culminates in the making of an arbitral award. Part II explores advanced procedural and practical aspects including the tribunal's mandate, award architecture, challenges to arbitral awards, enforcement proceedings, and essential drafting techniques required in arbitration practice.

The content covers key areas including:

• Arbitration Agreements and Their Validity
• Commencement and Conduct of Arbitral Proceedings
• Appointment, Powers, and Jurisdiction of Arbitral Tribunals
• Procedural Framework under Domestic Arbitration
• Evidence, Hearings, and Case Management
• Drafting of Arbitration Pleadings and Documents
• Preparation and Structure of Arbitral Awards
• Tribunal Mandate and Termination of Proceedings
• Setting Aside of Arbitral Awards under the Act
• Recognition and Enforcement of Domestic Awards
• Practical Drafting Exercises and Practitioner-Focused Case Studies
• Procedural Strategies and Best Practices for Arbitration Matters

Combining procedural clarity with practical case-based learning, this practitioner's workbook serves as a valuable reference for mastering domestic arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. Whether used for professional practice, legal education, or examination preparation, it provides a systematic and application-oriented understanding of one of India's most significant dispute resolution statutes.

About the Author:

Navod Prasannan is a commercial disputes and regulatory-risk counsel with over sixteen years at the Bar, appearing for companies, promoters, financial institutions, and public-sector undertakings. He appears before the Original Side of the Hon'ble Madras High Court and before its Commercial and Intellectual Property Divisions, as well as across the High Courts of Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Bangalore. He appears with equal regularity before a wide range of specialised tribunals, among them the NCLT, NCLAT, DRT, DRAT, NGT and RERA, and has successfully defended arbitral awards through Section 34 and Section 37 proceedings. The author leads the Dispute Resolution and Litigation practice for King Stubb and Kasiva out of its Chennai office.

Reviews

The statute without the principle behind it is a map without a compass, and Navod supplies the reader with both.

- Justice Challa Kodanda Ram (Retd.), Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India

This book will undoubtedly serve as a guiding resource for all stakeholders in the profession, including judges, lawyers, arbitrators and students.

- Justice Gopinath P., High Court of Kerala

For law students, freshly minted graduates and young practitioners, this book acts as an accelerated chamber clerkship.

- Dr. Ananth Padmanabhan, Vice-Chancellor, Sreenidhi University

About the Author
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Preface
PART I DOMESTIC ARBITRATION (The Arbitration Process: From Agreement to Award) Foundational Concepts, Authorities and First Principles
Chapter 1-Foundations and Scope of Arbitration
Chapter 2-The Arbitration Agreement
Chapter 3-Interim Relief and Provisional Measures
Chapter 4-Reference and Appointment of Arbitrators
Chapter 5-The Tribunal: Disclosure, Challenge, and Substitution
Chapter 6-Kompetenz-Kompetenz and Arbitrability
Chapter 7-The Arbitral Award
PART II DOMESTIC ARBITRATION (Tribunal Mandate, Award Architecture, Setting Aside, Enforcement, and Drafting)
Chapter 8-Expedited Arbitration and Emergency Arbitrator
Chapter 9-Curial Law, Substantive Law, Seat and Venue
Chapter 10-Challenge to Arbitrators, Termination of Mandate and Section 29A
Chapter 11-Setting Aside of Arbitral Awards and Section 37 Appeals
Chapter 12-Finality and Enforcement of Domestic Awards
Chapter 13-Drafting Arbitration Agreements and Cross-Border Enforcement