Prerequisites for valid invocation notice under Section 21

To effectuate the valid commencement of arbitral proceedings under Section 21 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, a notice or request invoking arbitration must clearly articulate the specific dispute sought to be referred to arbitration and contain an explicit demand for arbitration. Once a clear notice setting out the particular dispute is received by the respondent, the statutory commencement is complete and effective for all legal purposes, including limitation computation, section 11 maintainability, and satisfying interim order survival requirements. (Regenta Hotels Private Limited v. M/s Hotel Grand Centre Point | 2026 INSC 32)