Authority: High Court at Calcutta, Original Side (Commercial Division)

Order Date: 8 July 2026

Case Overview

  • Petition: AP-COM/481/2026, titled Vikram Surana vs Future Enterprises Limited.
  • Petitioners: Legal heirs and representatives of the original claimant, Mr. Laxmipat Surana, who died intestate on 17 May 2026.
  • Respondent: Future Enterprises Limited.
  • Relief sought: Extension of the mandate of the arbitral tribunal under Section 29A of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, to enable conclusion of arbitral proceedings and publication of the award.
  • Procedural history: The Court constituted the arbitral tribunal on 7 April 2021; pleadings were completed on 10 August 2022. On 10 September 2024, the Court substituted the original arbitrator with Justice Subrata Talukdar (Retd.). The tribunal’s original mandate expired on 30 November 2025 and was subsequently extended by consent of the parties to 30 May 2026 (six‑month extension).
  • Current status: The matter is at the stage of recording evidence. The original claimant’s death on 17 May 2026 prompted the petitioners to apply for substitution of the claimant before the arbitral tribunal; this substitution application remains pending.
  • Respondent’s position: No objection to the present extension application, stating that the pending substitution application should not affect the current petition and that the substitution application itself will require a further extension of the tribunal’s mandate.

Final Outcome

  • The Court, after finding no undue or unwarranted delay by the sole arbitrator, extended the mandate of the arbitral tribunal for an additional eight months from the date of the order (i.e., from 8 July 2026).
  • The Court expressly clarified that it is not expressing any opinion on the merits of the substitution application; the order is confined solely to the extension of the tribunal’s mandate.
  • The learned arbitrator is directed to make all reasonable endeavours to conclude the arbitral proceedings and publish the award within the extended period.
  • The petition is disposed of.

Topics: Arbitration, Court Order