Rashmi Metaliks Ltd. v. Union Of India, Through The General Manager, South Eastern Railway

ORDER

OCD-5

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

COMMERCIAL DIVISION ORIGINAL SIDE AP-COM/83/2026 RASHMI METALIKS LTD.

VS UNION OF INDIA, THROUGH THE GENERAL MANAGER, SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY

BEFORE

HON'BLE JUSTICE GAURANG KANTH Date: February 23, 2026.

Appearance:- Mr. Krishnaraj Thaker, Sr Adv.

Mr. Deepanjan Dutta Roy, Adv.

Ms. Sanjana Jha, Adv.

...for petitioner.

Mr. Sauvik Nandy, Sr. Adv.

Mr. Tilak Mitra, Adv.

...for respondent.

The Court:-The petitioner has preferred 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 senior counsel for the petitioner submits that the Hon'ble Supreme Court, vide order dated 25.01.2024, appointed a learned arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes between the parties. The pleadings were completed on 13.09.2024. With the consent of the parties, the mandate of the arbitral tribunal was further extended for a period of six months till 13.03.2026. It is submitted by the parties that the arbitral tribunal has already conducted more than 16 sittings and the matter is presently at the stage of respondent's evidence.

Learned counsel for the respondents states that the respondents have no objection to the extension of the mandate of the arbitral tribunal. Upon consideration of the submissions of 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 arbitral proceedings. Having regard to the advanced stage of the proceedings and in the interest of justice, the mandate of the learned sole arbitrator is extended for a further 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 above directions, the present petition stands disposed of. (GAURANG KANTH, J.) R. D. Barua