But many contracts require conflicts to be arbitrated in the franchise company's home state, a cost-sink for an out-of-town franchisee.

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New Delhi has asked India's Supreme Court to decide whether the case should be arbitrated at the Paris body, a U.N. panel or an Indian panel.

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About three years ago, Singh had appeared on a reality television show in a compensation dispute with a bus owner, arbitrated by Kiran Bedi, a former police officer who had been the chief of Tihar Jail.

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