Consumer Forum's Jurisdiction Not Excluded Merely Due to Existence of an Arbitration Clause: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of India has delivered an important judgment protecting consumer rights by holding that the mere existence of an arbitration clause in an agreement cannot prevent a consumer forum from deciding a dispute on its merits. The Court clarified that consumers cannot be forced out of the statutory remedy available under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 simply because the agreement between the parties contains an arbitration clause. Supreme…