Vikash Bhuwalka v. M/S Bansal Marble Centre And ORS.

ORDER

OC-11

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

COMMERCIAL DIVISION ORIGINAL SIDE AP-COM/970/2025 VIKASH BHUWALKA VS M/S BANSAL MARBLE CENTRE AND ORS.

BEFORE

HON'BLE JUSTICE GAURANG KANTH Date: January 05, 2026.

Appearance:- Mr. Debraj Sahu, Adv.

Mr. Bhaskar Dwivedi, Adv.

Mr. Hareram Singh, Adv.

Mr. Saptarshi Rajan Chatterjee, Adv.

...for petitioner.

The Court:- Affidavit of service is taken on record. Despite service, none appears for the respondents.

The petitioner has preferred the present application under Section 29A of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, seeking extension of the mandate of the arbitral tribunal for completion of the arbitral proceedings and publication of the arbitral award.

This Court vide order dated 20.11.2023 had appointed a sole arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes between the parties. The pleadings were completed on 14.05.2024. After completion of one year, with the consent of the parties, the mandate of the arbitral tribunal was extended for six months till 08.11.2025. In view thereof, the petitioner has sought extension of the mandate of the arbitral tribunal.

It is further stated by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the arbitral tribunal has held more than 19 sittings. The matter is presently at the stage of final arguments.

Upon consideration of the materials on record, this Court is satisfied that there has been no undue and unwarranted delay on the part of the learned sole arbitrator to conclude the proceedings. Having regard to the advanced stage of the arbitral proceedings and in the interest of justice, the mandate of the arbitral tribunal is further extended for a period of six 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 observations, the present application stands disposed of. (GAURANG KANTH, J.) R. D. Barua