Adhokkumar Laxmansingh Galundia v. Siddharth Javahirlal Jhaveri And 3 ORS

24-ARBPL1503-19.DOC Arun

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION ARBITRATION PETITION (L) NO. 1503 OF 2019 Ashokkumar Laxmansingh Galundia

...Petitioner

Versus

Siddharth J Jhaveri & Ors

...Respondents

Mrs Sheetal Shah, i/b Mehta & Girdharlal, for the Petitioner.

CORAM:

G.S. PATEL, J.

DATED:

6th January 2020 PC:- 1.

The Respondents are absent though served. The Petition is under Section 29-A of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996. The disputes between the parties arising under an Agreement dated 2nd December 1998 were referred to arbitration by an order of 6th June 2017. The learned sole arbitrator, Mr Shailesh Shah, Senior Advocate of this Court entered upon the reference to his arbitration on 30th June 2017. Before the learned sole arbitrator, the Petitioner has led the evidence of as many as nine witnesses. It seems Respondents Nos. 3 to 5 propose to lead the evidence of 10 witnesses. By any standards this is going to be a time-consuming task and it is impossible to complete within a year. Time has been previously extended on 20th December 2018 until 20th December 2019.

6th January 2020

24-ARBPL1503-19.DOC 2.

At present Respondents Nos. 3 to 5 have only just began the cross-examination of the Claimant's first witness. There are another nine to go, followed by 10 from those Respondents. 3.

Having regard to these circumstances, I am extending time presently for a period of 18 months from today. 4.

The Arbitration Petition is disposed of in these terms. No costs.

(G. S. PATEL, J) 6th January 2020