📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Maulik Kansara
Business
Gujarat High Court Calls for More Women and Technical Experts in Arbitration
✍️ Court Book
🗓 05 Nov 2026, 04:34 AM
👁 14
The Gujarat High Court has urged a broader, more diverse pool of arbitrators, stressing the need for greater female representation and technical expertise in arbitration proceedings.
In a recent order, the Gujarat High Court highlighted the limited composition of current arbitrator panels and recommended expanding the pool to include a wider range of professionals. The bench emphasized that incorporating more women will enhance gender balance and bring varied perspectives to dispute resolution.
The court also stressed the importance of technical experts, noting that many commercial and infrastructure disputes involve complex subject‑matter that requires specialized knowledge. By appointing arbitrators with relevant technical backgrounds, the judiciary aims to improve the quality and speed of arbitral awards.
Legal practitioners and arbitration institutions have been urged to revise their selection criteria and actively promote qualified female lawyers and sector‑specific specialists. The directive is expected to influence future appointments in Gujarat and could set a precedent for other Indian jurisdictions seeking to modernise their arbitration frameworks.
The High Court did not specify a timeline but indicated that the recommendations should be implemented promptly to address the growing backlog of cases and to align India’s arbitration practice with international best practices.
The court also stressed the importance of technical experts, noting that many commercial and infrastructure disputes involve complex subject‑matter that requires specialized knowledge. By appointing arbitrators with relevant technical backgrounds, the judiciary aims to improve the quality and speed of arbitral awards.
Legal practitioners and arbitration institutions have been urged to revise their selection criteria and actively promote qualified female lawyers and sector‑specific specialists. The directive is expected to influence future appointments in Gujarat and could set a precedent for other Indian jurisdictions seeking to modernise their arbitration frameworks.
The High Court did not specify a timeline but indicated that the recommendations should be implemented promptly to address the growing backlog of cases and to align India’s arbitration practice with international best practices.