JUDGMENT :

SANDEEP SHARMA, J.

1. By way of instant petition filed under S. 29-A(5) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (hereinafter ‘Act’) prayer has been made on behalf of petitioner and proforma respondents Nos. 3 to 7 for extension of time, enabling the learned Arbitrator to conclude the arbitration proceedings and pass arbitral award.

2. Precisely, the facts of the case, as emerge from the record, are that vide Award No. 17/1 of 2013-14, dated 31.12.2013, structure No. 60 i.e. house, shop, temple and WC of the petitioner and proforma respondents situate on Khasra No. 7/1, Village Palthin/460, Tehsil Ghumarwin, District Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh came to be acquired for the construction of four-lane (Bilaspur-Nerchowk Section) road. Since the petitioner and proforma respondents were not satisfied with the amount of compensation assessed by the Competent Authority-cum-Land Acquisition (CALA), they filed petition under S.3G(5) of National Highways Act, 1956 seeking enhancement of compensation awarded vide supplementary award No. 17/1 of 2013-14, dated 31.12.2013 before learned Arbitrator-cum-Divisional Commissioner, Mandi (Annexure P-1).

3. Though pleadings in the case were