Surender Rana Vs National Highway Authority of India & Ors. — Delhi HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

Surender Rana Vs National Highway Authority of India & Ors. — Delhi HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

All six writ petitions disposed of in the above terms: the grievance stands redressed by the filling up of the Section 3G(5) vacancy, and the Arbitrator (Sh. Amol Srivastava) is directed to devote sufficient time for expeditious conclusion of all pending arbitral proceedings, particularly those concerning the present petitions.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioners' limited grievance concerning the vacancy in the office of Arbitrator under Section 3G(5) of the National Highways Act, 1956 stands redressed upon the vacancy having been filled up, and what directions are required for expeditious conduct of the pending arbitral proceedings.

Court's answer

The vacancy under Section 3G(5) of the National Highways Act, 1956 having been filled up, with Sh. Amol Srivastava, IAS (additional charge of Special Secretary (Land & Building)) to act as Arbitrator, the limited grievance of the petitioners as canvassed in the present petitions stands redressed.

Ratio / Principle

Sh. Amol Srivastava, acting as Arbitrator, is directed to devote sufficient time for the purpose of expeditious conclusion of all pending arbitral proceedings, particularly the arbitral proceedings concerning the present petitions.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Delhi High Court (Sachin Datta, J.), order dated 06.11.2025, disposing of a batch of six writ petitions (W.P.(C) 14988/2025, 15049/2025, 15553/2025, 15813/2025, 15842/2025 and 15519/2025) filed by Sunita Mehra & Anr., Surender Rana and Riverdale Infrastructure(s) Pvt Ltd against the Union of India, NHAI and others. During the course of hearing it transpired that the vacancy under Section 3G(5) of the National Highways Act, 1956 had been filled up, with Sh. Amol Srivastava, IAS, holding additional charge of Special Secretary (Land & Building), to act as the Arbitrator. Holding that the petitioners' limited grievance stood redressed, the Court directed the Arbitrator to devote sufficient time for expeditious conclusion of all pending arbitral proceedings, particularly those concerning the present petitions, and disposed of the petitions accordingly. No costs or quantum awarded; no precedents discussed.

$~97 to 101 & 107 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 14988/2025 (97) SUNITA MEHRA & ANR. .....Petitioners versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Respondents + W.P.(C) 15049/2025 (98) SURENDER RANA .....Petitioner versus NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF INDIA & ORS. .....Respondents + W.P.(C) 15553/2025 (99) RIVERDALE INFRASTRUCTURE PVT LTD .....Petitioner versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Respondents + W.P.(C) 15813/2025 (100) RIVERDALE INFRASTRUCTURE PVT LTD .....Petitioner versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Respondents + W.P.(C) 15842/2025 (101) RIVERDALE INFRASTRUCTURES PVT LTD .....Petitioner versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Respondents + W.P.(C) 15519/2025 (107) RIVERDALE INFRASTRUCTURE PVT LTD .....Petitioner versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Respondents

Presence : Mr. Rohit Gandhi, Ms. Charu Shahi, Mr. Sidharth Kaushik, Mr. Vidur Marwah, Ms. Sanchika Makkar, Mr. Hargun Singh Kalra and Mr. Shubham Bhati and Mr. Varun Trivedi, Advocates for petitioner in Item No.97.

Mr. Karan Rajpurohit, Advocate for Petitioner in Item Nos.99,

This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 10/11/2025 at 16:30:28

100, 101 & 107.

Ms. Smita Maan, Mr. Vishal Maan and Mr. Kartik Dabas, Advocate for Petitioner in Item No.98.

Ms. Akanksha Gupta, SPC for R-1 (Union of India) in Item No.97.

Mr. Nimish Goel, Advocate for R-2/NHAI in Item No.97.

Ms. Iram Majid, CGSC along with Mr. Mohd. Suboor and Mr. Shivam Parashar, Advocates for Respondents in Item No.98.

Mr. Shivam Goel, Mr. Anil Kumar Goyal, Ms. Ramya S. Goel, Ms. Sanya Sharma and Ms. Parul Garg, Advocates for R-1/NHAI in Item No.98 and for R-2 in Item No.99, 100, 101 & 107.

Mr. Sanjay Kumar Pathak, Standing Counsel along with Mrs. K. K. Kiran Pathak, Mr. Sunil Kumar Jha and Mr. Divakar Kapil, Advocates for Respondent Nos.3 to 5 in Item Nos.99, 100, 107 & 101 and for R-3 and R-4 in Item Nos.97 & 98.

Mr. Nitinjya Chaudhry, CGSC along with Mr. Rahul Mourya, Advocates for UOI in Item Nos.99 to 101 & 107.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN DATTA O R D E R % 06.11.2025

During the course of hearing, it transpires that the vacancy under Section 3G(5) of the National Highways Act, 1956, has been filled up and Sh. Amol Srivastava, IAS, who has been given the additional charge of Special Secretary (Land & Building), shall act as the Arbitrator.

As such, the limited grievance of the petitioners as canvassed in the present petitions stands redressed. Sh. Amol Srivastava, is directed to devote

This is a digitally signed order.

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 10/11/2025 at 16:30:28

sufficient time for the purpose of expeditious conclusion of all pending arbitral proceedings, particularly the arbitral proceedings concerning the present petitions.

The petitions are, accordingly, disposed of in the above terms.

SACHIN DATTA, J

NOVEMBER 6, 2025/r

This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 10/11/2025 at 16:30:28