Nesha Ram v. NHAI and Ors.
Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 – extension of period of mandate of Arbitrator
Case brief
What is this about?
Arb. Case No. 413 of 2024, High Court of Himachal Pradesh (Justice Satyen Vaidya), decided 15.06.2024: petition by Nesha Ram for extension of the Arbitrator's mandate in Arbitration Case No. 568 of 2018 concerning market value of acquired land against Collector's assessment; NHAI filed reply raising no disentitling circumstance. Held: delay attributable to COVID-19 pandemic, not party negligence; mandate extended six months from date of order; NHAI free to contest interest/penalty claims arising from delay. Keywords: extension of mandate, Section 29, Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996, COVID-19 delay, land acquisition market value, NHAI.
What did the court decide?
Period of mandate available to the Arbitrator extended by six months from the date of passing of the order; pending miscellaneous applications (if any) stand disposed of.