Devyani International Limited v. Airports Authority Of India

$~82 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + O.M.P.(MISC.)(COMM.) 883/2025 DEVYANI INTERNATIONAL LIMITED .....Petitioner Through:

Mr. Mayank Arora, Mr. Jai Allagh, Mr. Pulkit Dahiya, Advocates versus AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA .....Respondent Through:

Mr. Udit Gupta, Ms. Pragya Gupta, Advocates

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUBRAMONIUM PRASAD

O R D E R

% 29.10.2025 I.A. 26590/2025 (Exemption) Allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

O.M.P.(MISC.)(COMM.) 883/2025 1.

This is a petition under Section 29A (4) of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act seeking extension of mandate of the learned Arbitrator for a period of six months for making the arbitral award. 2.

Material on record indicates that disputes arose between the parties under a Concession Agreement dated 04.10.2018 to develop, market, set up, operate, maintain and manage the food and beverage outlets at Srinagar International Airport. The parties approached DIAC with a Request for Arbitration under Rule 4 of the DIAC (Arbitration Proceedings) Rules, 2018, for initiation of arbitration proceedings on 16.07.2021. 3.

On 16.07.2022, Justice Anil R. Dave (Retd.), Former Judge of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, was appointed as the Sole Arbitrator for adjudication of disputes between the parties. Pleadings were completed on The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 01/11/2025 at 11:51:44

14.10.2022.

4.

Since the mandate of the learned Arbitrator was coming to an end, the parties approached this Court by filing OMP(MISC)(COMM) 123/2024 and this Court vide Order dated 21.02.2024 extended the mandate till 28.08.2024.

5.

A second application seeking extension of mandate was filed and this Court in OMP(MISC) (COMM) 622/2024 extended the mandate till 28.12.2024. The mandate was again extended till 30.04.2025 by this Court vide Order dated 24.12.2024 in OMP(MISC)(COMM) 1017/2024. 6.

It is stated that since the Award could not be pronounced due to unavoidable circumstances, the parties approached this Court by filing OMP(MISC) (COMM) 343/2025 and this Court vide Order dated 30.04.2025 extended the mandate till 30.10.2025. 7.

It is stated that the parties have been informed by the learned Arbitrator that he would require certain clarifications before he pronouncement of the Award and therefore the parties have approached this Court by filing the instant petition seeking extension of mandate. 8.

In view of the above, this Court is inclined to extend the mandate of the learned Arbitrator till 31.03.2026 so that the clarifications as required by the learned Arbitrator can be given by the parties and an arbitral award can be passed in the matter.

9.

The petition is disposed of along with pending application(s), if any. SUBRAMONIUM PRASAD, J OCTOBER 29, 2025 hsk The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 01/11/2025 at 11:51:44