Arbitration center more than an alternative to court: Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi

Arbitration center more than an alternative to court: Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi The conference is part of organisation of GHAC Arbitration Week – 2026 and is on the theme of 'Building Gujarat's Institutional Arbitration Ecosystem'.

Key points

• The conference is part of organisation of GHAC Arbitration Week – 2026 and is on the theme of 'Building Gujarat's Institutional Arbitration Ecosystem'.
• The Gujarat High Court Arbitration Centre (GHAC) inaugurated a three-day arbitration conference at GIFT City in Gandhinagar on Thursday.
• Parimal A Dabhi works with The Indian Express as Chief of Bureau, focusing on the state of Gujarat.
• The SC judges who attended the inaugural function are Justices K V Viswanathan, Vipul Pancholi and N V Anjaria.
• Justice P S Narsimha of the Supreme Court sent his written message on the occasion.

Sanghavi additionally indicated that aggressive efforts in the direction of arbitration in the state would benefit the GIFT City the most in terms of attracting foreign firms who want to invest in Gujarat.

Notably, the Gujarat High Court Arbitration Centre (GHAC) inaugurated a three-day arbitration conference at GIFT City in Gandhinagar on Thursday.

In attendance were Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, three sitting judges of the Supreme Court (SC), and a number of Gujarat High Court judges, including Chief Justice Sunita Agrawal. The SC judges who attended the inaugural function are Justices K V Viswanathan, Vipul Pancholi and N V Anjaria.

Meanwhile, the conference is part of organisation of GHAC Arbitration Week – 2026 and is on the theme of 'Building Gujarat's Institutional Arbitration Ecosystem'.

Highlighting the importance of arbitration during his speech at the inaugural function, Sanghavi remarked, "Generally, we look at arbitration as a second option to courts. But we need to take our perception further. Instead of being merely an alternative to the court, an arbitration center has proven to be extremely significant in a number of notable cases."

Reiterating the view expressed by Sanghavi, Justice Viswanathan remarked that arbitration should be seen not as an alternative dispute resolution system, but as a primary dispute resolution system.

He remarked, "The quality of an arbitration institution will depend on the quality of its administration, the independence of its process, the competence of those who decide disputes."

Justice Anjaria spoke regarding reviving arbitration with a focus on aspects such as cost-effectiveness, a party-centric process, straightforward accessibility for the common man and minimal judicial intervention.

Justice P S Narsimha of the Supreme Court sent his written message on the occasion. It was read out by Chief Justice Sunita Agrawal. © The Indian Express Pvt Ltd.

Parimal A Dabhi works with The Indian Express as Chief of Bureau, focusing on the state of Gujarat. Leveraging his seniority and access, Dabhi is recognized for his reporting on the complex interplay of law, politics, social justice, and governance within the region. Expertise & Authority Core Authority (Social Justice and Law): Dabhi is a key source for in-depth coverage of caste-based violence, discrimination, and the state's response to social movements, particularly those involving Patidar, Dalit and OBC communities. His reporting focuses on the societal and legal fallout of these problems: Caste and Discrimination: He has noted extensively on social boycotts and instances of violence against Dalits (such as the attack on a Dalit wedding party in Patan), the community's demands (like refusing to pick carcasses), and the political responses from leaders like Jignesh Mevani. Judicial and Legal Affairs: He tracks significant, high-stakes legal cases and judgments that set precedents in Gujarat, including the convictions under the stringent Gujarat Animal Preservation Act (cow slaughter), 2002 Gujarat riots and developments in cases involving former police officers facing charges of wrongful confinement and fake encounters. Political and Administrative Oversight: Dabhi provides essential coverage of the inner workings of the state administration and the opposition, ensuring a high degree of Trustworthiness in political analysis: State Assembly Proceedings: He frequently reports directly from the Gujarat Assembly, covering Question Hour, discussion on various Bills, debates on budgetary demands for departments like Social Justice, and ministerial statements on matters like illegal mining, job quotas for locals, and satellite-based farm loss surveys. Electoral Politics: His work details key political developments, including election analysis (voter turnout records), party organizational changes (like the end of C R Patil's tenure as BJP chief), and campaign dynamics.

For now, arbitration center more than an alternative to court: Deputy Chief Minister Harsh remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.