(1) As from the date of the constitution of the Tribunal and notwithstanding anything contained in Arbitration Act, 1940 (No.10 of 1940) or any other law, for the time being in force, or in any agreement or usage to the contrary, no Civil Court shall have jurisdiction to entertain or decide any dispute of which cognizance can be taken by the Tribunal under this Act.
1[(1-A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), a Civil Court may entertain and decide any dispute of the nature specified in the said sub-section referred to it by a person in the capacity of indigent person.
Explanation.— For the purpose of this sub-section “indigent person” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (No.5 of 1908).]
(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall apply to any arbitration proceeding either pending before any arbitrator or umpire or before any Court or authority under the provisions of Arbitration Act, or any other law relating to arbitration, and such proceedings may be continued, heard and decided in accordance with agreement or usage or provisions of Arbitration Act or any other law relating to arbitration in all their stages, as it this Act had not come into force.