M/S.Sri Mutharamman Travels And Transport, v. Hinduja Leyland Finance Limited,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 10-09-2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE M. SUNDAR AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR CMP No. 17604 of 2025 in
1. M/s.Sri Mutharamman Travels and Transport, Represented by its Sole Proprietor P.Sivakumar, No.54, GVT Complex, Varatharajapuram, Nagathamman Nagar, Poonamallee, Chennai -600 123. and another
2. Shunmuga Devi S W/o.P.Sivakumar, No.67, 9th Street, Kamaraja Nagar, Avadi, Thiruvallur, Chennai -600 071.
... Petitioners
Vs Hinduja Leyland Finance Limited, No.27A, Developed Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai -600 032.
... Respondent Civil Miscellaneous Petition filed under Section 5 of Limitation Act, 1963 read with Section 151 of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908 to pass an order to condone the delay of 103 days in filing the instant Arbitration Appeal filed against the Impugned Order dated 07.01.2025 passed by the Arbitral Tribunal constituted by Indian Centre for Industrial Commercial Arbitration at Chennai, comprising of a Sole Arbitrator in I.A. No.662 of 2024 in A.C.P. No.426 of 2024. For Appellant(s):
Mr.Raghavendra Ross Divakar for Mr.B.Kishore of M/s.Dua Associates (Law Firm) For Respondent(s): Mr.M.Arunachalam
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by M.Sundar J.) Captioned 'Civil Miscellaneous Petition' ['CMP' for the sake of brevity] has been filed with a 'Condonation of Delay' ['CoD' for the sake of brevity] prayer seeking condonation of 103 days delay in filing captioned appeal, which is directed against an order dated 07.01.2025
made by a 'Arbitral Tribunal' ['AT' for the sake of brevity] inter alia permitting repossession and sale of vehicles (we are informed that they are tipper trucks) which are subject matter of arbitration.
2. As regards CoD prayer, Mr.Raghavendra Ross Divakar, learned counsel representing Mr.B.Kishore of M/s.Dua Associates (Law Firm) submits that there was lapse in communication between erstwhile counsel before AT and the client but this is opposed by Mr.M.Arunachalam, learned counsel for respondent and learned counsel adverting to impugned order i.e., order made by AT vide Section 17 'The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (Act No.26 of 1996)' [hereinafter 'A and C Act' for the sake of convenience and clarity] submitted that the petitioners have participated and were even given time to file counter affidavit but they have not filed a counter affidavit.
3. Be that as it may, given the nature of the matter, facts and circumstances of the case and more particularly the trajectory the matter has taken thereafter {to be noted, mandate of the AT has been terminated
by way of a judicial order in Section 14 petition (order dated 05.08.2025 in Arb.O.P. (Com.Div.) Nos.302 & 317 of 2025)}, we are inclined to take a liberal view in this matter, accept the lapse in communication reason as it is post impugned order and condone the delay.
4. In the captioned CMP, delay is condoned and we write that CMP is ordered as prayed for. There shall be no order as to costs. Registry is directed to process the appeal and assign a number, if it is otherwise in order.
(M.S.,J.) (M.S.K.,J.) 10.09.2025 gpa
M.SUNDAR J.
AND MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR J.
gpa CMP No. 17604 of 2025 in 10.09.2025