Hon’ble Mr Justice Surya Kant, Chief Justice of India, delivered a comprehensive and forward-looking address at the first edition of the Indo-French Legal and Business Conference, jointly organised by the Paris Bar Association and the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI), underscoring the growing convergence between India and France in law, innovation, and cross-border dispute resolution.
Drawing a compelling parallel between the civilisational journeys of India and France, Justice Surya Kant invoked the symbolism of the Ganga and the Seine, describing both rivers as storytellers of culture, commerce, and identity. He observed that despite geographical distance, the two nations share a deep harmony of purpose rooted in democratic values, creativity, resilience, and institutional trust.
Addressing the theme of cross-border dispute resolution, Justice Surya Kant emphasised that disputes are a natural consequence of innovation and transnational collaboration, and what truly matters is the availability of a justice delivery system that ensures predictability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. He stated that India has undergone a significant legal transformation over the past decade, moving decisively towards arbitration, mediation, and specialised commercial adjudication.
Justice Surya Kant highlighted India’s modern arbitration framework under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, aligned with the UNCITRAL Model Law, and reaffirmed India’s strong commitment to the New York Convention, ensuring enforceability of foreign arbitral awards. He noted that recent legislative amendments and judicial pronouncements have significantly reduced court interference, strengthened party autonomy, and enhanced investor confidence.
Speaking on mediation, Justice Surya Kant referred to the enactment of the Mediation Act, 2023, which gives statutory recognition and enforceability to mediated settlements. He also spoke about the nationwide “Mediation for the Nation” initiative, which has helped mainstream mediation across India and substantially reduce pendency by resolving disputes efficiently and amicably.
Justice Surya Kant further outlined India’s commercial courts framework, specialised appellate benches in High Courts, and the constitutional guarantee of an independent judiciary, assuring foreign investors of robust institutional safeguards and the rule of law.
Placing the discussion in the broader context of the India–France Year of Innovation 2026, Justice Surya Kant stressed that innovation must be supported by legal systems capable of responding to digital contracts, cross-jurisdictional platforms, and emerging technologies. Quoting French philosopher Blaise Pascal, he remarked that justice without force is powerless, and force without justice is tyrannical, observing that in today’s world, innovation itself has become a form of force that must be anchored in justice.
Looking ahead, Justice Surya Kant proposed deeper Indo-French cooperation through joint arbitration and mediation panels, institutional partnerships between Indian and Paris-based arbitration centres, judicial and academic exchanges, and collaboration in online dispute resolution (ODR) frameworks—particularly beneficial for startups and SMEs.
He concluded by reaffirming India’s position as a preferred destination for investment and dispute resolution, stating that as India and France enter a new phase of innovation and partnership, the future lies in institutionalised trust, collaborative justice mechanisms, and shared legal vision.
The conference brought together judges, senior lawyers, diplomats, policymakers, industry leaders, and legal scholars from India and France, marking a significant milestone in strengthening Indo-French legal and business ties.