Arbitration Bar of India will not be an exclusive men's club: Attorney General R Venkataramani

Attorney General (AG) for India R Venkataramani has emphasized that Arbitration Bar of India (ABI) will not and cannot be any exclusive men's club..Addressing murmurs and doubts about ABI, AG Venkataramani underlined the inclusivity of ABI and affirmed that many accomplished names in arbitration will be invited to assume responsibilities of ABI."This association will not and cannot be any exclusive men's club. All of us want wonderful and accomplished sisters at the Bar to be active office bearers and participants. There is a long list of accomplished names in the world of arbitration, many of whom I know so well as persons who matter for India's growth story and who will be invited to assume responsibilities. Those of us who have come forward to bear the costs and stresses of organizing this event are only foot soldiers and more as midwives. There are neither gates nor fences," he stated..The Attorney General made the remarks during the inaugural session of the Arbitration Bar of India event held at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on May 11.The event also witnessed the presence of Dr S Jaishankar, Minister for External Affairs, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics, and Information Technology, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and ABI President Gourab Banerji, among others..'Arbitrate in India' is a key facet of 'Make in India': External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar.Venkataramani also announced the final clearance by the Government of India for the establishment of a permanent code of arbitration seat in India..The Attorney General contextualized ABI's formation within the broader landscape of arbitration initiatives in India, tracing its roots back to the year 1998 and acknowledging the efforts of various organizations such as the Indian Arbitration Forum (IAF) and the Indian Council of Arbitration (ICA).He emphasized the need for India to assert its position in the global arena of dispute resolution, the need to move away from historical hesitations and embracing promotion of fair and dharmic dispute resolutions."As India is able to unfold its maturity and wisdom on what should be a world of equity in equal regard, a world beyond Bronze and Stone Age hegemony, we are also called upon to draw some broad blueprints for fair and the dharmic dispute resolutions. We have in our basket of experiences, many stories of bilateral multilateral treaties investment engagements, both internal and external and global experiences are good harvest, not only of a seminar contemplation but for utilitarian ends into quick translations into schemes and practices," he said.Venkataramani concluded his address by emphasizing the need for collective and concerted efforts in advancing India's position in the field of arbitration."India needs all our collective and concerned efforts. And what good is a preamble to the Constitution, "We the people of Bharat," if we are not that people," he said..Read what SG Tushar Mehta said at the event here.Read what ABI President Gourab Banerji said here.