Union Of India Ministry Of Petroleum And ... vs Hardy Exploration And Production ...

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's dismissal of the Union of India's appeal against the Single Judge's order regarding the jurisdiction of Indian courts under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The Court affirmed that the Indian courts lack jurisdiction to entertain applications challenging the legality of arbitration awards when the arbitration agreement specifies a foreign venue. This ruling clarifies the limits of judicial intervention in arbitration matters, reinforcing the principle of party autonomy in arbitration agreements.