JUDGEMENT

PURUSHAINDRA KUMAR KAURAV, J. (ORAL)

1. The present application under Section 34 of the Arbitration and

Conciliation Act, 1996 [“the Act of 1996”] assails the Arbitral Award dated 03.01.2024, along with the Corrigendum dated 02.03.2024 rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal.

2. The dispute emanates from a contract executed between the applicant [Union of India, through the Joint Secretary (DPA-3), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India] and the respondent, which is a joint venture entity of M/s GR-Gawar, for the “upgradation of existing roads to paved standards in the Terai region of Nepal, Phase-I [Contract Package-01]”.

3. Following the dispute between the parties, an Arbitral Tribunal was constituted, culminating in the impugned award dated 03.01.2024, subsequently modified by the corrigendum dated 02.03.2024.

4. The applicant herein challenges the impugned award and corrigendum by way of the instant application under Section 34 of the Act of 1996. At this juncture, no detailed recitation of the substantive controversy is required, as the preliminary issue of limitation is itself dispositive.

5. On advance instructions, learned counsel app