CJI Surya Kant to launch Chandigarh International Arbitration Centre on Saturday

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant will launch the Chandigarh International Arbitration Centre (CIAC) this weekend.

The launch will take place during the inaugural ceremony of India International Disputes Week (IIDW), 2026, on March 7 in the presence of various judges, senior policymakers, and global delegates.

In an announcement, the Punjab and Haryana High Court said,

"The establishment of CIAC reflects a considered institutional vision to promote structured, time-bound, and professionally administered arbitration within a defined rules-based framework. In an era characterised by increasingly complex commercial transactions, cross-border investments, infrastructure growth, and technological change, the need for credible and predictable dispute resolution mechanisms has become increasingly significant."

The CIAC's establishment is touted to reinforce Chandigarh’s position as a progressive forum for arbitration and mediation in north India.

Besides CJI Kant, the Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra, Attorney General for India R Venkataramani, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta and Chairman Bar Council of India (BCI) Manan Kumar Mishra are also expected to be part of the inaugural ceremony.

The CIAC’s institutional framework provides:

- Administration of domestic and international arbitrations;

- Appointment and facilitation of arbitrators;

- A curated and periodically reviewed Panel of Arbitrators;

- Structured case management and procedural supervision;

-Emergency arbitration mechanisms for urgent interim relief;

- Online Dispute Resolution facilities enabling secure virtual hearings and digital filings;

- Professional hearing and conference infrastructure;

- A transparent administrative cost schedule under defined Rules.

Meanwhile, IIDW will have five days of focused dialogue across litigation, ADR and emerging dispute domains.

"Designed for judges, counsel, institutions and global practitioners, each day, at a different venue, IIDW is structured around a core practice area, combining keynotes, panels, workshops and curated discussions," the event organizers said.

The scheduled panel discussions are as follows:

DAY 1: March 7, 2026

Inaugural Address · Global Dispute Leadership · Institutional Maturity · Future of Disputes

DAY 2: March 8, 2026

Child Custody · Matrimonial Finance · Domestic Violence · Extradition · Financial Crime · Cross-Border Enforcement

DAY 3: March 9, 2026

Civil Courts and Litigation, Social Trust · Constitutional Rights · Evolving Role of Judges · Access to Justice

DAY 4: March 10, 2026

Contracts · Construction and Infrastructure · Energy Disputes · Commercial AI Liability · Cross Border Trade and Investment

DAY 5: March 11, 2026

International Arbitration · Mediation Strategy · Institutional & Ad-hoc Arbitration · Enforcement of Awards

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