Authority: High Court at Calcutta, Commercial Division
Order Date: 10 July 2026
Case Overview
- Parties: SPML INFRA LIMITED (petitioner) vs WEST BENGAL STATE ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION COMPANY LIMITED (respondent).
- Petition filed under Section 29A(4) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, seeking extension of the arbitral tribunal's mandate for completion of proceedings and award publication.
- Arbitral tribunal constituted and held its first meeting on 22 March 2021; pleadings completed on 29 June 2022.
- Initial extension: six months to 28 December 2023.
- Subsequent extension by this Court on 27 February 2024: six months to 28 June 2024.
- Due to ill health and subsequent demise of the presiding arbitrator, parties mutually reconstituted the tribunal.
- Further extension by this Court on 10 December 2024: eighteen months to 9 June 2026.
- Tribunal has conducted more than 56 sittings and is presently at the stage of final arguments.
- Respondent has expressed no objection to any further extension.
- Court observed no undue or unwarranted delay by the sole arbitrator and noted the advanced stage of the proceedings.
Final Outcome
- The mandate of the learned sole arbitrator is extended for an additional twelve months from the date of this order (10 July 2026).
- The arbitrator is directed to make all reasonable endeavours to conclude the arbitral proceedings and publish the arbitral award within the extended period.
- The petition is disposed of.
Topics: Arbitration, Court Order