Crayons Advertising Limited v. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited

$~78 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + O.M.P.(MISC.)(COMM.) 977/2024 CRAYONS ADVERTISING LIMITED .....Petitioner Through:

Mr. Jaiveer Kant, Advocate.

versus BHARAT SANCHAR NIGAM LIMITED .....Respondent Through:

Mr. L.B. Rai, Mr. Satvik Rai, Mr.

Rohit Kumar Poddar, Advocates.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUBRAMONIUM PRASAD

O R D E R

% 18.12.2024 I.A. 48806/2024 (Exemption) Allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

O.M.P.(MISC.)(COMM.) 977/2024 1.

This is a petition under Section 29A (4) & (5) of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996 seeking extension of mandate of the Arbitral Tribunal for rendering the arbitral award.

2.

It is stated that the parties entered into an agreement dated 17.09.2009 for providing Out Of Home (OOH) advertising services to the Respondent. It is stated that disputes arose between the parties and an Arbitrator was appointed and the arbitral proceedings commenced on 18.02.2018. 3.

It is stated that the mandate of the Arbitral Tribunal was extended from time to time. It is stated that the extension of mandate granted by this Court in OMP(MISC)(COMM) No.225/2022 for a period of nine months came to an end on 10.05.2023. However, the parties have continued with the 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 03/07/2025 at 04:25:38

arbitration proceedings and the arbitral award stands reserved in the matter. 4.

The Apex Court in Rohan Builders (India) Private Limited v. Berger Paints India Limited, 2024 SCC OnLine SC 2494, has held that an application for extension of the time period for passing an arbitral award under Section 29A(4) read with Section 29A(5) is maintainable even after the expiry of the twelve-month or the extended six-month period, as the case may be.

5.

In view of the fact that valuable time and money has been spent by both the parties and there is no objection from any side that the Arbitrator has delayed the matter, this Court is inclined to extend the mandate from 10.05.2023 and grant extension of time till the filing of the present petition and further grant extension of mandate for a period of four months from the date of filing of the present petition so as to enable the learned Arbitrator to pass an award.

6.

The petition is disposed of along with the pending applications, if any. SUBRAMONIUM PRASAD, J DECEMBER 18, 2024 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 03/07/2025 at 04:25:38