IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision: 18.02.2026 Dr. Harshbir Singh Pannu and another …….Applicants Versus Dr. Jaswinder Singh ….Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHEEL NAGU, CHIEF JUSTICE Present: Mr. Manjit Singh Khaira, Senior Advocate, (Through Video Conferencing)

with Mr. Manspreet Singh, Advocate, for the applicants.

None for the respondent.

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SHEEL NAGU, CHIEF JUSTICE ( Oral )

1. This Court, on the last occasion i.e. 13.02.2026, had afforded another opportunity to the respondent to be represented, as it was found that the respondent, despite being served the notice issued by this Court on 04.02.2026, was not represented.

2. Today, when the matter is taken up, no one appears for the respondent.

3. In view of the above, this Court proceeds to decide the matter on merits.

4. This case has a chequered history, which commences from appointment of a Former Judge of this Court as an Arbitrator, for the first time vide order of this Court dated 02.03.2020. Vide order dated 27.07.2021, the Arbitrator fixed the fees with the consent of counsel for both the parties. However, when the parties failed to deposit their respective shares of the arbitral fee