$~J * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Judgment reserved on: 03.02.2025 Judgment pronounced on: 17.04.2025 + ARB. A. (COMM.) 43/2024 & I.A. 36399/2024, I.A. 44028/2024 NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA .....Appellant Through: Mr. Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General with Mr. Manish Bishnoi, Ms. Gunjan Sinha Jain, Ms. Muskaan Gopal, Mr.

Khubaib Shakeel, Advs.

versus HK TOLL ROAD PVT. LTD.

.....Respondent Through: Mr. Mr. Parag Tripathi, Sr. Adv. with Mr. Vijayendra Pratap Singh, Mr. Aditya Jalan, Mr. Aditya Ganju, Ms. Shruti Garg, Mr. Pradyumna Sharma, Mr. Bharat Makan, Ms. Khushi Mittal, Ms. Mishika Bajpai, Advs.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASMEET SINGH

J U D G M E N T

: JASMEET SINGH, J INDEX TO THE JUDGMENT Digitally Signed ARB. A. (COMM.) 43/2024 Page 1 of 68 THE CHALLENGE ..............................................................................2 FACTUAL BACKGROUND ...............................................................3 RIVAL CONTENTIONS .....................................................................8 ON BEHALF OF NHAI ...............................................................................8 ON BEHALF OF THE RESPONDENT ...................................