Arbitration Act 1940
Section 8
Power of Refer Parties to Arbitration where there is an Arbitration Agreement.
(1) A judicial authority before which an
action is brought in a matter which is the subject of an arbitration agreement
shall, if a party so applies not later than when submitting his first statement
on the substance of the dispute, refer the parties to arbitration.
(2) The application referred to in sub-section
(1) shall not be entertained unless it is accompanied by the original
arbitration agreement or a duly certified copy thereof.
(3) Notwithstanding that an application has
been made under sub-section (1) and that the issue is pending before the
judicial authority, an arbitration may be commenced or continued and an
arbitral award made.