Ankita Agrawal v. Akansha Bhargava

$~65 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + O.M.P. (MISC.) 38/2024 ANKITA AGRAWAL .....Petitioner Through:

Mr. Amber Jain, Ms.Priya Bhowmik, Mr. Rajiv Ranjan, Advocates versus AKANSHA BHARGAVA .....Respondent Through:

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUBRAMONIUM PRASAD

O R D E R

% 08.01.2025 I.A. 276/2025 Allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

I.A. 275/2025 1.

This application has been filed by the Petitioner seeking preponment of the date of hearing of O.M.P. (MISC.) 38/2024, which is coming up for hearing on 11.03.2025.

2.

For the reasons stated in the application, the same is allowed. 3.

O.M.P. (MISC.) 38/2024 is being heard today itself. 4.

The application is disposed of.

O.M.P. (MISC.) 38/2024 5.

The present Petition is for extending the mandate of the learned Arbitrator.

6.

It is stated that this Court vide order dated 14.10.2022 appointed a The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

Sole Arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes between the parties. It is stated that vide Order dated 27.05.2024 this Court in O.M.P. (MISC.) 14/2024 had extended the mandate of the Arbitrator till 27.10.2024. It is stated that the matter is at the final stage and the learned Arbitrator has reserved the award. It is stated that the mandate of the learned Arbitrator expired on 27.10.2024 and the Petitioner filed the present Petition seeking extension of mandate of the learned Arbitrator. It is stated that the matter was listed on 07.11.2024 and since there was no appearance on behalf of the Respondent, Notice was issued by this Court which was returnable on 06.12.2024. On 06.12.2024 in view of the Special Bench matters, the present Petition could not be taken up and the matter was adjourned to 11.03.2025. In view of the fact that substantial time has been invested by the parties and the Arbitrator in the arbitration proceedings, this Court is inclined to hear the matter today itself. 7.

Respondent, who appears in persons raises an objection to the present Petition on the ground that the learned Arbitrator ought to have pronounced the award in the stipulated time and no further extension ought to be granted to the Arbitrator.

8.

This Court is of the opinion that the objection raised by the Respondent cannot sustain for the reason that this Court in O.M.P. (MISC.) 14/2024 vide Order dated 27.05.2024 had extended the mandate of the Arbitrator till 27.10.2024. The learned Arbitrator has concluded the arguments and has reserved the award. There is nothing on record to show that the learned Arbitrator has been lax in proceeding with the Arbitration Proceedings.

9.

In view of the above, this Court is inclined to extend the mandate of the Arbitrator till 10.04.2025 so that the award can be pronounced by the The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

learned Arbitrator.

10.

The Petition is disposed of, along with the pending applications, if any.

11.

The date already fixed in the matter, i.e. 11.03.2025 stands cancelled. SUBRAMONIUM PRASAD, J JANUARY 08, 2025 Rahul The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.