law: The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
  54. Power of judicial
  
  authority to refer parties to arbitration.
  Notwithstanding
  
  anything contained in Part I or in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of
  
  1908), a judicial authority, on being seized of a dispute regarding a contract
  
  made between persons to whom section 53 applies and including an arbitration
  
  agreement, whether referring to present or future differences, which is valid
  
  under that section and capable of being carried into effect, shall refer the
  
  parties on the application of either of them or any person claiming through or
  
  under him to the decision of the arbitrators and such reference shall not
  
  prejudice the competence of the judicial authority in case (he agreement or the
  
  arbitration cannot proceed or becomes inoperative.