Sri Goutam Mukherjee And ANR v. Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Limited And ANR

OD-4 ORDER SHEET

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION ORIGINAL SIDE AP/66/2026 SRI GOUTAM MUKHERJEE AND ANR VS BAJAJ ALLIANZ LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED AND ANR

BEFORE:

The Hon'ble JUSTICE GAURANG KANTH Date : 19th May, 2026.

Appearance Mr. Amritam Mandal, Adv.

Ms. Jeenia Rudra, Adv.

...for the petitioners Mr. Dwaipayan Banerjee, Adv.

Ms. Mahima Mukherjee, Adv.

...for the respondents The Court: 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 this Court vide order dated 20.07.2017 had appointed Ms. Lapita Banerjee (as Her Ladyship then was) as the sole Arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes between the parties. The arbitral tribunal commenced and continued its proceeding till 09.06.2022, whereafter the learned sole Arbitrator, after her elevation as a Judge of this Court withdrew from the office of the Arbitrator. Subsequently an application filed by the petitioner under Section 14 and 15 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, this Court vide order dated 28.02.2024 appointed Ms. Panja Moulik as the learned sole Arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes between the parties. The pleadings were completed

on 05.09.2024. However, on 05.08.2025 the learned Arbitrator resigned from the Office. The petitioner again approached this Court under Section 14 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. This Court vide order dated 18.09.2025 appointed Mr. Ayan Banerjee as the sole Arbitrator. With the consent of the parties, the mandate of the arbitral tribunal was extended for a period of six months till 04.03.2026. The matter is at the stage of recording of evidence.

Learned Counsel for the respondent states that he has 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 and unwarranted delay on the part of the learned sole Arbitrator in concluding 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 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 aforesaid observations, the present petition stands disposed of.

(GAURANG KANTH, J.) S. Mandi AR(CR)