M/S Sunflag Iron And Steel Co. Ltd. Nagpur Through Its Authorised Signatory, Mr. Bhushan Tembhekar v. M/S Vedanta Ltd. Andheri (East), Mumbai

2025:BHC-NAG:5516 1 38-CAO 537.2025.odt

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR CIVIL APPLICATION (O) NO. 537 OF 2025 IN M.C.A.(ARBITRATION) NO. 67 OF 2022 (D) ( M/s Sunflag Iron and Steel Co. Ltd. vs. M/s. Vedanta Ltd.) Office Notes, Office Memorandum of Coram, appearances, Court's orders of the directions, Court's or Judge's order and Registrar's orders.

Mr. A.C. Dharmadhikari, Advocate for the applicant. Mr. V.H. Pande, Advocate h/f Mr. Anshu Deshpande, Advocate for the respondent.

CORAM :

ABHAY J. MANTRI, J.

ATE :

JUNE 16, 2025 1) The applicant and respondent have jointly filed this application under Section 29A of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, for the grant of an extension of time to conclude the arbitration proceeding for a further period of six months, which expired on 25/05/2025. The applicant, in support of its contention, has filed a detailed affidavit stating the progress of the proceeding, wherein the deponent has deposed that the applicant has examined five witnesses, and the first witness of the respondent is under examination. It also wants to examine four more witnesses and, therefore, has jointly prayed for a sixmonth extension. 2) Learned counsel for the applicant to substantiate his contention has relied upon the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Rohan Builders (India) Pvt. Ltd. vs. Berger Paints India Limited reported in AIR 2024 SC 4369 and submitted that in view of the same, the Court can extend the

2 38-CAO 537.2025.odt further period by imposing certain terms and conditions while extending the same.

3) Considering the reasons stated in the application, affidavit and dictum laid down in the case of Rohan Builders (supra), it would be appropriate to grant further extension of the time to conclude the arbitration proceeding by granting a further period of six months. Hence, the application is allowed as prayed. The time to conclude the arbitration proceeding is extended by six months w.e.f. 25/05/2025 to 24/11/2025. It is made clear that no further time will be extended if the parties fail to conclude the arbitration proceeding within the stipulated time, as an extension has already been granted twice to the parties.

(ABHAY J. MANTRI, J.) KOLHE Signed by: Mr. Ravikant Kolhe Designation: PA To Honourable Judge Date: 16/06/2025 18:51:28