Filing One Arbitration Plea Doesn’t Fix Jurisdiction Forever, Clarifies Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court held that mere filing of an earlier arbitration-related plea does not confer jurisdiction for subsequent applications under Section 42 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, especially when the earlier plea was withdrawn without adjudication.

The Court emphasised that jurisdiction must be real and legally sustainable, not created artificially through procedural filings.

Rejecting a plea for extension of an arbitrator’s mandate, it held that the agreement conferred exclusive jurisdiction on Ranchi courts, and prior proceedings in Delhi could not override this.

It also cautioned against attempts at forum shopping through strategic filings.

[SP Singla Constructions Pvt Ltd v. State of Jharkhand & Anr.]