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Rajendra Kumar Panpalia & Anr. vs. Prashant Harit & Ors.

Original Miscellaneous Petition (Miscellaneous, Commercial) · CNR No. DLHC010431752026Decided 14 Sept 2026New Delhi Bench
O.M.P.(MISC.)(COMM.) 719/2026CNR: DLHC010431752026
Justice Om Prakash Shukla

Background

A sole arbitrator, a retired District & Sessions Judge, was appointed in 2022 to resolve a dispute arising from a 2018 agreement between the parties. Pleadings closed in February 2024, and the mandate had already been extended once by mutual consent and once by the Court (in August 2025). The petitioners sought a further 12-month extension since the arbitration, though progressing (the petitioners' evidence was complete and the respondents' evidence was underway), had not concluded.

Decision Breakdown

Given the substantial progress made and the fact that both parties agreed to the extension, the Court found sufficient cause to extend the arbitrator's mandate for a further 12 months from 14 August 2026, and regularised the gap period between the mandate's expiry and the date of this order. The arbitrator was asked to make all efforts to conclude proceedings within the extended period.

Lesson Learnt

Arbitrations that run past their statutory time limit under Section 29A can be kept alive through court-granted extensions, especially where both sides agree and real progress is being made, but a party must proactively approach the court before or promptly after the mandate lapses to avoid procedural gaps.

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