Authority: District Court, Mandi (Judge Romesh Verma)
Order Date: 15 July 2026
Case Overview
- Parties: Applicant – National Highways Authority of India (NHAI); Respondent No.1 – Nikki Devi; Respondent No.2 – not named (represented by Addl. A.G.).
- Proceedings: Two separate applications were considered:
1. OMP(M) No.100 of 2026 – Application for condonation of a 170‑day delay in filing an appeal against the impugned judgment dated 29‑Mar‑2025 passed by the learned District Judge, Mandi.
- The applicant obtained a certified copy of the judgment on 26‑Jun‑2025 (request made on 12‑Jun‑2025).
- Delay attributed to counsel’s failure to inform the applicant; earlier withdrawals of cases from law firm M.V. Kini & Co. were dated 20‑Sep‑2023 and 26‑Mar‑2024.
- The applicant asserted the delay was unavoidable and not intentional.
2. OMPST No.70689 of 2026 – Application seeking stay of execution of the same impugned judgment (29‑Mar‑2025) and an arbitral award dated 07‑Aug‑2023.
- The stay was conditioned on the appellant/applicant depositing the entire awarded amount with up‑to‑date interest within eight weeks from the order date.
Final Outcome
- The court condoned the 170‑day delay, allowed the application, and registered the appeal.
- The appellant’s counsel was directed to supply a copy of the entire paper book to the respondents’ counsel on the same day.
- The court ordered a stay on the implementation of the 29‑Mar‑2025 judgment and the 07‑Aug‑2023 arbitral award, subject to the stipulated deposit within eight weeks.
- Both applications were disposed of by Judge Romesh Verma.
Topics: Legal Procedure, Infrastructure Project Litigation, Court Orders