ASEEM WATTS Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present matter has comes upon an application filed by the applicant under Sec. 151 CPC seeking extension of time for pronouncement of the arbitral award by the learned Sole Arbitrator.

(2.) This Court does not deem it necessary to recapitulate the entire factual matrix of the case, as the same has already been dealt with in the previous order whereby an application seeking extension of the arbitral period as well as substitution of the arbitrator was allowed. Consequently, Honble Mr. Justice (Retd.) Arvind Singh Sangwan was appointed as the learned Sole Arbitrator to proceed from the stage at which the proceedings were pending, and the time for completion of the arbitral proceedings was extended by six months from the date the learned new Arbitrator held the first hearing.

(3.) Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the first hearing before the learned Sole Arbitrator was held on 17/6/2025 and the award was reserved on 8/11/2025. It is further submitted that vide email dtd. 16/12/2025, the learned Sole Arbitrator informed the parties that the award was ready and at the final stage of vetting; however, on account of his illness and the said date being the last date for pronouncement of the award, he requested the parties to grant mutual consent for extension of 15 days time for pronouncement of the award.