Netar Singh Vs Land Acquisition Officer (Slau)-Cum-Competent Authority and Another — Himachal Pradesh HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

Netar Singh Vs Land Acquisition Officer (Slau)-Cum-Competent Authority and Another — Himachal Pradesh HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Mandate of the learned Arbitrator extended by six months; parties directed to appear before the Arbitrator (Divisional Commissioner, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh) on 16.10.2025; all rights and contentions of the parties left open to be adjudicated by the learned Arbitrator; petition stands disposed of in these terms, along with pending miscellaneous application(s), if any.

Issue for consideration

Whether the mandate of the learned Arbitrator, which lapsed on 26.12.2022, should be extended so as to enable conclusion of the pending arbitral proceedings.

Court's answer

In view of the orders already passed in Hari Singh Saini, Pradeep Kuamr, Goverdhan and Prem Laxmi, the petition is allowed and the mandate of the learned Arbitrator deciding the matter is extended by six months from the date of the order.

Ratio / Principle

The parties, through their learned counsel, were directed to appear before the learned Arbitrator, i.e. the Divisional Commissioner, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, on 16.10.2025, with all rights and contentions of the parties left open to be adjudicated by the learned Arbitrator.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Himachal Pradesh at Shimla — Arb.Case No.127 of 2025, decided 09.10.2025 (Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Judge). Arbitration — extension of arbitrator's mandate. The mandate of the learned Arbitrator (Divisional Commissioner, Mandi) in the dispute between Netar Singh and the Land Acquisition Officer & Anr. had lapsed on 26.12.2022; the petitioner sought its extension to conclude the arbitral proceedings. Placing reliance on the Court's earlier orders in Hari Singh Saini (Arb.Case 126/2025), Pradeep Kuamr (Arb.Case 188/2025), Goverdhan (Arb.Case 142/2025) and Prem Laxmi (Arb.Case 877/2024), and with counsel ad-idem that mandates expiring on 26.12.2022 in like matters had been extended, the Court allowed the petition: the mandate was extended by six months, the parties were directed to appear before the Arbitrator on 16.10.2025, and all rights and contentions were left open; the petition and pending miscellaneous application(s) stood disposed of accordingly.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH AT SHIMLA

Arb.Case No.127 of 2025 Decided on: 09.10.2025

_________________________________________________________________ Netar Singh ....Petitioner Versus Land Acquisition Officer & Anr …Respondents ________________________________________________________________ Coram_

Ms. Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua,

Whether approved for reporting?

_________________________ For the petitioner:	________________________________________ Mr. Ashok Kumar Sharma, Advocate.
For the respondents:	Mr. S.D.Vasudeva, Deputy Advocate General, for respondent No.1.
	Ms. Shreya Chauhan, Advocate, for respondent No.2.

Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Judge

The mandate of learned Arbitrator lapsed on 26.12.2022. This petition has been moved for extending the

mandate of the learned Arbitrator for concluding the arbitral proceedings.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner has placed reliance upon Hari Singh Saini and Anr. Vs. Land

2 -

Acquisition Officer and Anr.¹ , Pradeep Kuamr & Ors Vs. Land Acquisition Officer & Anr.² and Goverdhan and others Vs. LAO and another³ in support of his prayer for extending the mandate of learned Arbitrator.

3. Learned counsel for the parties are ad-idem that in all such arbitration matters, where mandate of learned Arbitrator had expired on 26.12.2022, the same has been extended under orders passed in the aforesaid different arbitration cases.

Learned counsel for the petitioner has also placed reliance upon the law summed up in Prem Laxmi and Company Vs. Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd.⁴ for extending the mandate of learned Arbitrator.

4. In view of orders already passed in Hari Singh Saini¹ , Pradeep Kuamr² , Goverdhan³ and Prem Laxmi⁴ , this petition is allowed. The mandate of learned Arbitrator in deciding the petition under reference is extended by six months from today. The parties, through their learned counsel, are directed to appear before the learned Arbitrator i.e. the Divisional Commissioner, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh,

1 Arb.Case No.126 of 2025, decided on 27.06.2025

2 Arb.Case No.188 of 2025, decided on 11.07.2025

3 Arb.Case No.142 of 2025, decided on 23.07.2025.

4 Arb.Case No. 877 of 2024, decided on 03.07.2025

3 -

on 16.10.2025 . All rights and contentions of the parties are

left open to be adjudicated by the learned Arbitrator.

The petition stands disposed of in the above

terms, so also the pending miscellaneous application(s), if

any.

Jyotsna Rewal Dua Judge

October 9, 2025 R.Atal