Jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal derives from the arbitration agreement rather than the notice of invocation

The jurisdiction of an arbitral tribunal is rooted in and circumscribed by the arbitration agreement entered into between the parties, and it is not confined to the specific disputes enumerated in the notice of invocation. Reading a restriction into the tribunal's adjudicatory powers based strictly on the four corners of a Section 21 notice would impermissibly supplant the broad consensual mandate embodied in the contract. Where an arbitration agreement is couched in wide terms—such as encompassing any dispute or difference arising out of or connected with the contract—the reference brings within the tribunal's authority all arbitrable disputes arising thereunder. Therefore, an arbitral tribunal does not commit an excess of jurisdiction or render its award inexecutable under Section 34 merely because it adjudicates upon claims that were not specifically listed in the initial invocation notice, as long as such claims are covered by the overarching arbitration clause. (M/s Bhagheeratha Engineering Ltd. Vs State of Kerala | 2026 INSC 4)