Calcutta High CourtAP/204/2025disposed

Sarika Bhoot v. Soumitra Projects Private Limited

2025-12-17Hon'Ble Justice Gaurang Kanth2 pages

OD-7 ORDER SHEET

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION ORIGINAL SIDE AP/204/2025 SARIKA BHOOT VS SOUMITRA PROJECTS PRIVATE LIMITED

BEFORE:

The Hon'ble JUSTICE GAURANG KANTH Date: 17TH December, 2025.

APPEARANCE:

Mr. Varun Kothari, Adv.

Mr. Nikunj Berlia, Adv.

Mrs. Urvashi Jain, Adv.

...for the petitioner.

The Court : Affidavit of service is taken on record. Despite service, none appears for the respondent. This is an application filed by the petitioner under Section 29A of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, seeking extension of the mandate of the Arbitral Tribunal for conclusion of the proceedings and publication of the award.

Learned counsel for the petitioner states that this Court vide order dated 24.11.2023 had appointed the learned sole Arbitrator. The pleadings were completed on 10.06.2024. With the consent of the parties, the mandate of the Arbitral Tribunal was extended for a period of six months on 20.05.2025. It is further submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the said extension came to an end on 10.12.2025. Learned counsel for the petitioner further states that more than 27 sittings have been held by the learned sole Arbitrator.

Upon consideration of materials on record and submissions made on behalf of the learned counsel for the petitioner, 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. In view of the fact that more than 27 sittings have been held by the learned sole Arbitrator and that the matter is presently at the stage of examination of the respondent's witness, this Court is of the considered view that the present proceedings are at the advance stage. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the present case and in the interest of justice, the mandate of the Arbitral Tribunal is further extended for a period of eight months to conclude the arbitral proceedings and publish the final award within the extended time period. Learned sole Arbitrator is requested to make all endeavours to conclude the proceedings and publish the award within the extended time period. With the aforesaid directions, the present application being AP/204/2025 is disposed of.

(GAURANG KANTH, J.) KB AR(CR)