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Tata Capital Limited (Transferee of Tata Capital Financial Services Limited) vs. M/S Aadinath Steel and Ors

Original Miscellaneous Petition (Miscellaneous, Commercial) · 2026:DHC:8973Decided 9 Oct 2026New Delhi Bench
O.M.P.(MISC.)(COMM.) 733/2026CNR: DLHC010440722026
Justice Om Prakash Shukla

Background

Tata Capital Limited sought a court-ordered extension of its Sole Arbitrator's mandate, as the statutory period for completing the arbitration was about to expire even though pleadings had closed, final arguments were already concluded, written submissions filed, and the matter was simply awaiting pronouncement of the award. No one appeared to oppose this on behalf of the respondents.

Decision Breakdown

Given how far advanced the arbitration already was (reserved for award) and that only a limited extension was being sought, the Court was satisfied sufficient cause existed, allowed the petition, extended the Sole Arbitrator's mandate by three further months, and formally regularised the intervening period during which the mandate had technically lapsed.

Lesson Learnt

When an arbitration is essentially complete and just awaiting the final award, courts will readily grant a short extension of the arbitrator's statutory time limit rather than let a nearly-finished case collapse on a technical deadline.

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