Srei Equipment Finance Limited v. Seirra Infraventure Private Limited

OCD-9 ORDER SHEET

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

ORIGINAL SIDE (Commercial Division) AP-COM/38/2026 SREI EQUIPMENT FINANCE LIMITED VS SEIRRA INFRAVENTURE PRIVATE LIMITED

BEFORE:

The Hon'ble JUSTICE GAURANG KANTH Date : 28th January, 2026.

Appearance Mr. Swatarup Banerjee, Adv.

Mr. Sariful Haque, Adv.

Mr. Rajib Mullick, Adv.

Ms. Sonia Mukherjee, Adv.

...for the petitioner The Court: Affidavit of service is taken on record. Despite service, none appears on behalf of the respondent. The petitioner has filed the present petition under Section 29A of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 seeking extension of the mandate of the arbitral tribunal for conclusion of the arbitral proceedings and publication of the arbitral award.

Learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that Mr. Samrat Mukherjee was appointed as the sole arbitrator vide letter dated 18th December, 2020. Subsequently, this Court in exercise of its power under Section 14 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, vide order dated 22nd February, 2022 substituted the said arbitrator and appointed Mr. Soumabho Ghosh as the sole arbitrator.

It is further submitted that with the consent of the parties the mandate of the arbitral tribunal was further extended for a period of six

months. Thereafter, vide order dated 7th November, 2024, this Court further extended the mandate of the arbitral tribunal for a period of one year from the date of the said order. The said mandate expired on 8th November, 2025. Learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that the matter is presently at the stage of claimant's evidence. The Tribunal has conducted 19 hearings.

Upon consideration of the submissions of both the parties and the materials placed on record, this Court is satisfied that there has been no undue or unwarranted delay on the part of the learned sole arbitrator in conducting the proceedings.

Having regard to the advanced stage of the proceedings and in the interest of justice, the mandate of the arbitral tribunal is extended further for a period of eight months from today.

The learned sole arbitrator is requested to make all reasonable endeavours to conclude the arbitral proceedings and publish the arbitral award within the extended time period.

With the aforesaid observations, the present petition stands disposed of.

(GAURANG KANTH, J.) S. A.

AR (CR)