Statements of claim and defence

In force Act 26 of 1996 As on 18 Oct 2026

Read from the scanned gazette. India Code publishes no text for this Act, so the text below was read from the Government's own scan by machine and split into sections by its numbering. It has not been checked against the page word by word. Where it matters, read the scan. Read the scan.

Act 26 of 1996 Cited by 2 provisions

This is a second copy of a Central Act. India Code files it on Punjab's shelf as well as under Parliament, and the text is the same enactment. Read it at The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, which is the record this site keeps current.

Read from the scanned gazette. India Code publishes no text for this Act, so this text was read from the Government's own scan by machine and split into sections by its numbering. It has not been checked against the page word by word. Where it matters, read the scan. Read the scan.

Section 23 of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act 1996 deals with statements of claim and defence. Within the period of time agreed upon by the parties or determined by the arbitral tribunal, the claimant shall state the facts supporting his claim, the points at issue and the relief or remedy sought, and the respondent shall state his defence in respect of these particulars, unless the parties ha

(1) Within the period of time agreed upon by the parties or determined by the arbitral tribunal, the claimant shall state the facts supporting his claim, the points at issue and the relief or remedy sought, and the respondent shall state his defence in respect of these particulars, unless the parties have otherwise agreed as to the required elements of those statements.
(2) The parties may submit with their statements all documents they consider to be relevant or may add a reference to the documents or other evidence they will submit. 1[(2A) The respondent, in support of his case, may also submit a counterclaim or plead a set-off, which shall be adjudicated upon by the arbitral tribunal, if such counterclaim or set-off falls within the scope of the arbitration agreement.] (3) Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, either party may amend or supplement his claim or defence during the course of the arbitral proceedings, unless the arbitral tribunal considers it inappropriate to allow the amendment or supplement having regard to the delay in making it.
Section 23, The Arbitration & Conciliation Act 1996 (Act 26 of 1996).

Cross-references

Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.

Referred to by 2

Questions about Section 23

What does Section 23 of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act 1996 deal with?

Section 23 of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act 1996 is headed "Statements of claim and defence". Within the period of time agreed upon by the parties or determined by the arbitral tribunal, the claimant shall state the facts supporting his claim, the points at issue and the relief or remedy sought, and the respondent shall state his defence in respect of these particulars, unless the parties ha

How do I find court cases under Section 23 of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act 1996?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Arbitration & Conciliation Act 1996 23, section 23 Arbitration & Conciliation Act 1996, section 23 of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act 1996. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.

What should I read with Section 23 of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act 1996, and has it changed?

2 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it.

When was the Arbitration & Conciliation Act 1996 enacted?

Arbitration & Conciliation Act 1996 was enacted in 1996 as Act 26 of 1996. India Code records no commencement date for it. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

86. Repeal and saving13407 words
11. Appointment of arbitrators1361 words
31. Form and contents of arbitral award844 words
34. Application for setting aside arbitral award750 words
2. Definitions669 words
16. Competence of arbitral tribunal to rule on its jurisdiction589 words

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Read from the Government's own scanned gazette with Azure Document Intelligence, then split into sections by their numbering. India Code publishes no text for this Act. The scan itself is mirrored into our own storage and served at /scan/e7283d27-161c-4275-922b-f30fe6390ba0.pdf, so the reading here can be checked against the page it came from without depending on India Code's own copy staying where it is (it was at https://indiacode.gov.in/server/api/core/bitstreams/2ec9fd35-b242-47e6-b553-8dc993ceccec/content). This page is not a substitute for legal advice.