Staying of court proceedings in respect of matters to be referred to arbitration

Notwithstanding anything contained in Part I of this Act, if any party to a submission made in pursuance of an agreement to which the Protocol set out in the Second Schedule to this Act applies, or any person claiming through or under him, commences any legal proceedings in any court against any other party to the submission, or any person claiming through or under him, in respect of any matter agreed to be referred, any party to such legal proceedings may at any time after appearance, and before delivering any pleadings or taking other steps in the proceedings, apply to that court to stay the proceedings, and that court, or a judge thereof, unless satisfied that the agreement or arbitration has become 10 inoperative or cannot proceed or that there is not in fact any dispute between the parties with regard to the matter agreed to be referred, shall make an order staying the proceedings.