The extent to which a judicial authority may intervene in the arbitral process is restricted by which section of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996?

Section 5 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 enshrines the principle of minimal judicial intervention: 'Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, in matters governed by this Part, no judicial authority shall intervene except where so provided in this Part.' This protects the autonomy of the arbitral process and limits courts to the specific intervention points the Act permits, such as referral under Section 8, appointment under Section 11, interim relief under Section 9, and challenge under Section 34. It reflects the UNCITRAL Model Law philosophy of party autonomy and finality.