Skillstech Services Private Limited v. Manpowergroup Services India Private Limited

$~30 & 31 *

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

+ O.M.P.(MISC.)(COMM.) 190/2024 & I.A. 5552/2024 SKILLSTECH SERVICES PRIVATE LIMITED ..... Petitioner Through:

Ms. Tejaswini Chandra Sekhar and Mr. Zafar Khurshid, Advocates.

versus MANPOWERGROUP SERVICES INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED ..... Respondent Through:

Appearance not given.

+ O.M.P.(MISC.)(COMM.) 191/2024 & I.A. 5558/2024 SKILLSTECH SERVICES PRIVATE LIMITED ..... Petitioner Through:

Ms. Tejaswini Chandra Sekhar and Mr. Zafar Khurshid, Advocates.

versus MANPOWERGROUP SERVICES INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED ..... Respondent Through:

Appearance not given.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN

O R D E R

% 11.03.2024 1.

These petitions have been filed under Section 29A of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 ["the Act"], seeking extension of the mandate of the learned Arbitrator, who is in seisin of disputes The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

between the parties under several agreements, in two separate arbitral proceedings.

2.

In the arbitral proceedings under consideration in O.M.P.(MISC.)(COMM.) 191/2024, the learned Arbitrator was appointed pursuant to an order of this Court dated 03.04.2021 in ARB.P. 495/2021. Thereafter, the mandate of the learned Arbitrator was extended by a period of six months by consent of parties, under Section 29A of the Act, which is stated to have expired on 29.02.2024. It is stated in the petition that the learned Arbitrator, at the stage of hearing of arguments, determined that parties are required to file separate Statement of Claims under each of the agreements in question in these proceedings, and has directed parties to comply with this requirement. 3.

Similarly, in the arbitral proceedings under consideration in O.M.P.(MISC.)(COMM.) 190/2024, the learned Arbitrator was appointed pursuant to an order of this Court dated 26.08.2021 in ARB.P. 424/2021. Thereafter, the mandate of the learned Arbitrator was extended by a period of six months by consent of parties, under Section 29A of the Act, which is also stated to have expired on 29.02.2024. Arguments are yet to commence in these proceedings.

4.

Without prejudice to the rights and contentions on the merits of the proceedings, or orders passed by the learned Arbitrator, learned counsel for the respondent states that he has no objection to the extension of time being granted.

5.

In view of the above and with consent of learned counsel for the parties, both these petitions are allowed, and the mandate of the learned Arbitral Tribunal is extended by a period of nine months from today in The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

each of the arbitral proceedings in question. 6.

The petitions, alongwith pending applications, stand disposed of in these terms.

PRATEEK JALAN, J MARCH 11, 2024 SS/ The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.