JUDGMENT OF THE COURT
Section 6(1) of the Arbitration Act, 1995, provides:- “6(1). A court before which proceedings are brought in a matter which is the subject of an arbitration agreement shall, if a party so applies not later than the time when that party enters an appearance or files any pleading or takes any other step in the proceedings, stay the proceedings and refer the parties to arbitration unless it finds -
(a) that the arbitration agreement is null and void, inoperative or incapable of being performed; or
(b) that there is not in fact any dispute between the parties with regard to the matters agreed to be referred to arbitration.”
On the plain reading of that section, before the court can consider the issues raised in paragraphs (a) and (b of section 6 (1) of the Act, the court has to satisfy itself that the party applying for reference to arbitration has applied to the court:- “.not later than the time when that party enters appearance or files any pleadings or takes any other…