Ms United Coal Carriers v. Damodar Valley Corporation

OCD-13 ORDER SHEET

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

COMMERCIAL DIVISION ORIGINAL SIDE AP-COM/138/2026 M/S. UNITED COAL CARRIERS VS DAMODAR VALLEY CORPORATION

BEFORE:

The Hon'ble JUSTICE GAURANG KANTH Date : 24th February, 2026.

Appearance:

Mr. Akash Munshi, Adv.

Mr. Lalit Baid, Adv.

Mr. Tamoghna Saha, Adv.

Ms. Sanjana Shaw, Adv.

...for the petitioner The Court: Affidavit of service is taken on record. 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 for the petitioner submits that the parties by mutual consent appointed the learned sole arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes between the parties vide letter dated 7th December, 2018 and the learned sole arbitrator communicated his consent to act as the sole arbitrator. The pleadings were completed on 22nd November, 2021. With the consent of the parties the mandate of the arbitral tribunal was extended up to 21st May, 2023 for a period of six months. Thereafter, this Court vide order dated 17th May, 2024, 20th November, 2024 and 19th

November, 2025 extended the mandate of the arbitral tribunal for a period of six months, one year and three months respectively. It is contended by the learned Counsel for the petitioner, the mandate of the arbitral tribunal expired on 19th February, 2026. He further states that the arguments have already concluded and the matter is at the stage of publication of the arbitral award.

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

In view of the fact that the matter is at the stage of pronouncement of the award, and in order to ensure expeditious conclusion of the arbitral proceedings, this Court deems it appropriate to extend the mandate of the learned sole arbitrator for publication of the arbitral award and accordingly, extend the mandate of the arbitral tribunal further for a period of one month 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)