Online arbitration in India is at its infancy stage. Online arbitration is also known as cyber arbitration in India. Online arbitration in India is not very popular because there are very few online arbitration and mediation centre in India.Online arbitration is an essential part of the online dispute resolution (ODR) mechanism. Online dispute resolution in India is still at its initial stages. It is facing many legal and technical roadblocks in India.
Indian arbitration law is incorporated in the arbitration and conciliation act, 1996. With the passage of time, it has become necessary to amend the same. Although much talk about amending the arbitration law of India has already taken place yet no constructive actions have taken so far.
Even the cyber law of India is defective. The information technology act, 2000 is the sole cyber law of India that requires urgent repeal. Further, the national litigation policy of India (NLPI) must also be reformulated as it is not catering the requirements of e-courts and ODR in India.
On the front of research and development as well India need to work hard. We have a single techno legal e-courts training, consultancy and educational centre in India. It is managing many crucial aspects of technology and law like e-courts, ODR, digital evidencing, judges and lawyers training for e-courts and ODR, cyber law trainings, etc. This centre is managed by Perry4Law Techno Legal Base (PTLB), a techno legal segment of Perry4Law.
We need more such techno legal institution that can help in the growth and development of e-courts and ODR in India. Law Minister Veerappa Moily must urgently consider these issues so that online arbitration in India may see the light of the day.
