Arbitration Act 1940
Section 28
Rules Applicable to Substance of Dispute
(1) Where the place of arbitration is situate
in India , -
(a) in
an arbitration other than an international commercial arbitration, the arbitral
tribunal shall decide the dispute submitted to arbitration in accordance with
the substantive law for the time being in force in India ;
(b) in
international commercial arbitration, -
( i )
the arbitral tribunal shall decide the dispute in
accordance with the rules of law designated by the parties as applicable to the
substance of the dispute;
(ii) any designation
by the parties of the law or legal system of a given country shall be construed,
unless otherwise expressed, as directly referring to the substantive law of
that country and not to its conflict of laws rules;
(iii) failing any designation of the law under clause (a) by the
parties, the arbitral tribunal shall apply the rules of law it considers to be
appropriate given all the circumstances surrounding the dispute.
(2) The arbitral tribunal shall decide ex aequo et bono or as amiable compositeur only if the parties have expressly authorized
it to do so.