1. Through the medium of instant application, the applicant herein seeks extension of time in concluding the arbitration proceedings pending before the Arbitral Tribunal of sole arbitrator appointed by this Court in terms of order dated 17.03.2023 whereunder Sh. Kiker Singh Parihar, (Retd.) District and Sessions Judge came to be appointed as sole arbitrator to adjudicate upon the disputes inter se the parties being applicant herein and the non - applicant herein.

2. It is being stated that after entering upon the reference, the arbitrator passed the first procedural order on 10.07.2023, directing the parties to appear, whereupon the parties appeared and consequently the applicant herein filed the statement of claims in terms of order dated 20.07.2023, while stating further that on the said date, the parties made a statement before the arbitrator that the arbitration proceedings be conducted under and in terms of the provisions of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act of 1996, instead of Jammu and Kashmir of 1997.

3. It is being next stated that the respondent in the arbitration proceedings being non - applicant herein subsequently filed its statement of defence on 01.02.2024 and