UOI and Another Vs Sukh Ram and Another — Himachal Pradesh HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

UOI and Another Vs Sukh Ram and Another — Himachal Pradesh HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Delay in filing the appeal condoned and application allowed; appeal ordered to be registered and admitted, to be listed for hearing in due course; execution, implementation and operation of the award dated 20.11.2023 and the judgment dated 02.12.2024 stayed during pendency of the appeal, subject to deposit of the entire awarded amount with up-to-date interest within eight weeks.

Issue for consideration

Whether the delay in filing the appeal should be condoned. +1 more

Court's answer

The application for condonation of delay is allowed and the delay in filing the appeal is condoned, the application being duly supported by an affidavit and unopposed by the learned counsel for the non-applicants.

Ratio / Principle

The appeal is admitted, directed to be registered, and to be listed for hearing in due course.

Key takeaways

Execution, implementation and operation of the impugned award dated 20.11.2023 passed by the learned Arbitrator and the judgment dated 02.12.2024 passed by the learned District Judge, Mandi, H.P. shall remain stayed during the pendency of the appeal, subject to deposit of the entire awarded amount alongwith up-to-date interest within eight weeks.ratio¶27

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Arbitration appeal (Union of India & another vs. Sukh Ram & another): application for condonation of delay in filing the appeal allowed, the delay being attributed to the earlier counsel/law firm (M/s M.V. Kini & Co., withdrawn vide letters dated 20.09.2023 and 26.03.2024) and the certified copy of the judgment dated 02.12.2024 having been applied for on 11.03.2025, attested on 16.04.2025 and delivered on 07.05.2025; the non-applicants raised no objection. Appeal admitted and listed for hearing in due course. Execution, implementation and operation of the arbitral award dated 20.11.2023 and the judgment dated 02.12.2024 of the learned District Judge, Mandi, H.P. in CIS Registration No. 439 of 2024 stayed during pendency of the appeal, subject to deposit of the entire awarded amount with up-to-date interest within eight weeks. (Romesh Verma, Judge; 14.07.2026.) Related registrations: Arb. Appeal No.____/2026 (ARBAST No. 70502/2023); OMPST 630/26.

Union of India & another vs. Sukh Ram & another

OMP(M) No. 132 of 2026.

14.07.2026

Present: Ms. Shreya Chauhan, Advocate, for the applicants/ appellants.

Mr. Munish Dhatwalia, Advocate, for respondent No.1.

Mr. Baldev Singh Negi, Additional Advocate General, for respondent No.2.

OMP(M) No. 132 of 2026.

The present application has been filed for condonation of delay in filing the present appeal.

It has been averred in the application that a copy of the judgment dated 02.12.2024 was applied for by the counsel on 11.03.2025, the same was attested on 16.04.2025, and delivered on 07.05.2025. However, the disposal of the case was not within the knowledge of the appellants/applicants, as the same was never intimated to the appellants by its counsel.

Earlier also, due to the inefficiency and lackadaisical attitude of the law firm/counsel, cases were withdrawn from the said law firm, namely, M/s M.V. Kini & Co., vide letters dated 20.09.2023 and 26.03.2024 (Annexure A-2).

It is stated that the applicants were under the bona fide belief that the instant case was pending. It came

to the knowledge of the applicants only upon the close of the financial year 2024–2025 that the objection petition pertaining to Muhal Thapna had been disposed of.

Thereafter, prompt action was taken to obtain the entire case file, and the present appeal was filed immediately. The delay in filing the appeal was due to circumstances beyond the control of the present applicants.

The learned counsel for the non-applicants have no objection, in case the present application is allowed.

In view of the averments as made in the application, which is duly supported by an affidavit and keeping in view the fact that the learned counsel for the non-applicants have no objection, the present application is allowed, and the delay in filing the appeal is condoned.

Application stands disposed off.

Arb. Appeal No.____/2026 (ARBAST No. 70502/2023)

Appeal be registered.

Heard.

Admit.

List for hearing in due course.

In the meantime, record be requisitioned.

Learned vice counsel for the appellants is directed to supply entire paper book to learned counsel for

the respondents during the course of day.

OMP No. _____of 2026 (OMPST 630/26)

Application be registered.

Subject to deposit of entire awarded amount alongwith up-to-date interest by the applicants/appellants, execution, implementation and operation of impugned award dated 20.11.2023, passed by learned Arbitrator and judgment dated 02.12.2024, passed by learned District Judge, Mandi, H.P. in CIS Registration No. 439 of 2024, shall remain stayed during the pendency of appeal. Needful

be done within eight weeks from today.

Application stands disposed of.

(Romesh Verma) Judge

July 14, 2026 ( Nisha)