RIL's KG-D6 basin arbitration case highlights gaps in government's approach

The final outcome of all arbitral cases have gone in favour of the government; ironically, the finance ministry itself advised departments to exercise caution when challenging awards for larger cases

The  renewal of a dispute between the ministry of petroleum and natural gas and refining behemoth Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) is yet another reminder that arbitration with the government is fraught territory in India, be it with state-owned enterprises, or the government itself. 

The dispute comes days after Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar said "Arbitral process in our country is just an additional burden to the normal hierarchical mechanism of adjudication." He added that "(while) I have seen in ten years, growth of arbitral centres with credibility in Dubai and Singapore ... We are not in the mind of people who