$~67 & 68 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + O.M.P.(MISC.)(COMM.) 227/2023 and IA 36911/2024 APEX BUILDSYS LTD. .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Suhail Sehgal, Mr. Achin Goel and Mr. Prashant D., Advocates versus VADERA INTERIORS AND EXTERIORS .....Respondent Through: Mr. Mritunjay K. Singh, Mr. Saikat Khatva, Mr. Ravi Shankar, Mr. Narsingh Narain Rai, Mr. Praant Sharma, Ms. Parul Sharma, Mr. Harsh Garg and Ms.

Charvi Maurya, Advocates + O.M.P.(MISC.)(COMM.) 260/2023 APEX BUILDSYS LTD. .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Rakesh Kumar, Mr. Suhail Sehgal, Mr. Achin Goel and Mr. Prashant Deolia, Advs.

versus SHAKTI PUMP INDIA LTD. .....Respondent Through: Mr. Vasanth Rajasekaran & Mr.

Harshvardhan Korada, Advocates CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C. HARI SHANKAR JUDGMENT (ORAL)

% 21.08.2024 O.M.P.(MISC.)(COMM.) 227/2023 and IA 36911/2024 Signature Not Verified Signature Not Verified

1. This is a petition under Section 29A(4), 129-A. Timelimitforarbitralaward of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996, 2“the1996Act”hereinafter for extension of the mandate of the Arbitrator, who was in seisin of the dispute between the parties.

2. Mr. Suhail Sehgal, learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that the mandate of the Arbitrator expired on 21 January 2019 whereas Mr. Singh, learned counsel for the respondent submits that the mandate of the Arbitrator expired on 25 March 2019. That discrepancy is not strictly relevant for deciding the present petition. Suffice it to state that prior to the expiry of the mandate of the learned Arbitrator, the following order was passed by him on 21 January

2019:

Present: Nonefortheparties.

The witness due to accident was admitted in hospital and at the request of Claimant the matter is again adjourned for cross examination and tendering of affidavit and documents for (1) Theawardinmattersotherthaninternationalcommercialarbitrationshallbemadebythe arbitral tribunal within aperiodof twelvemonthsfromthedateof completionof pleadingsunder sub-section(4)ofSection23:

Provided that the award in the matter of international commercial arbitration may be made as expeditiously as possible and endeavour may be made to dispose of the matter within a periodoftwelvemonthsfromthedateofcompletionofpleadingsundersub-section(4)ofSection

23.

(2) If the award is made within a period of six months from the date the arbitral tribunal entersuponthereference,thearbitraltribunalshallbeentitledtoreceivesuchamountofadditional feesasthepartiesmayagree.

(3) The parties may, by consent, extend the period specified in sub-section (1) for making awardforafurtherperiodnotexceedingsixmonths.

(4) If the award is not made within the period specified in sub-section (1) or the extended period specified under sub-section (3), the mandate of the arbitrator(s) shall terminate unless the courthas,eitherpriortooraftertheexpiryoftheperiodsospecified,extendedtheperiod: Providedthatwhileextendingtheperiodunderthissub-section,ifthecourtfindsthatthe proceedingshavebeendelayedforthereasonsattributabletothearbitraltribunal,then,itmayorder reductionoffeesofarbitrator(s)bynotexceedingfivepercentforeachmonthofsuchdelay:

Providedfurtherthatwhereanapplicationundersub-section(5)ispending,themandate ofthearbitratorshallcontinuetillthedisposalofthesaidapplication:

Provided also that the arbitrator shall be given an opportunity of being heard before the fees is reduced.

(5) Theextensionofperiodreferredtoinsub-section(4)maybeontheapplicationofanyof thepartiesandmaybegrantedonlyforsufficientcauseandonsuchtermsandconditionsasmaybe imposedbythecourt.

Signature Not Verified Signature Not Verified

21.01.2019at 4:30P.M.

SoleArbitrator Present: Sh. Rajpal and Raja Ram for Claimant alongwith witness NaveenSharma Sh.MritunjaySingh,Advocateforrespondent.

CW-1NaveenSharmais present.

He tendered his affidavit with some documents in evidence of claimant Partly Examined and cross by the respondent counsel. Now come up for further cross examination of witness on 13.02.2019 at 4:30 PM. Parties are directed