Supreme Court Confirms: No Arbitration Without Agreement, Participation Does Not Confer Jurisdiction

The Supreme Court has upheld a Bombay High Court decision setting aside an arbitral award, reaffirming foundational principles of arbitration law: jurisdiction cannot be unilaterally imposed, participation in defective proceedings does not cure jurisdictional nullity, and state authorities lack power to foist arbitration on parties governed by concluded contracts. The judgment in M/s Bharat Udyog Ltd. v. Ambernath Municipal Council offers critical guidance on the interpretation of dispute resolution clauses, the limits of statutory intervention, and the doctrine of estoppel in arbitration.