NHAI vs. Ranjeet Singh OMP(M) No.514 of 2025 29.04.2026 Present: Mr. Karan Singh Kanwar, Advocate vice Mr. Sumeet Raj Sharma, Advocate, for the applicant/appellant. On 01.01.2026, notice was issued to the respondent, returnable within four weeks. Thereafter, the matter was listed before the Additional Registrar(Judicial) on 03.03.2026 and on the said date, sole respondent was duly served. Since, no one had put in appearance on his behalf on the said date, therefore, he was proceeded against ex-parte. The present application has been filed for condonation of delay in filing the present appeal. It has been averred in the application that the impugned judgment was passed by the learned District Judge, Mandi Division, District Mandi on 01.08.2024. It is further averred that applicant/appellant had engaged M/s Kini Law Firm to challenge the arbitral award before the learned District Judge, Mandi and thereafter the engaged counsel had opined to the applicant/appellant that an appeal shall be preferred against the impugned judgment dated 01.08.2024 and only then the applicant/ appellant acquired the knowledge of the passing of the impugned judgment dated 01.08.2024. It is averred that the certified copy of the impugned judgment was applied on 27.09.2024 and the same was delivered on 22.10.2024. Thereafter the office of the applicant/appellant had taken the steps for engaging the counsel for filing the appeal. It has been further contended by the learned counsel for the applicant/appellant that the delay in filing the appeal is neither intentional nor willful and the same has occurred due to unavoidable circumstances, which were beyond the control of the applicant/appellant. Keeping in view the averments as made in the application, which is duly supported by an affidavit, delay in filing the appeal is condoned and the present application is allowed. Application stands disposed off. Arb. Appeal No._____ARBAST No. 57872/25 Appeal be registered. Heard. Admit. Post admission notice be issued to the respondent, returnable within four weeks, on taking steps within three days. List for hearing in due course. Record be requisitioned. OMPST No. 57973 of 2025 Be registered. Heard. Subject to deposit of entire awarded amount alongwith up-to-date interest by the applicant in the Registry of this Court within a period of eight weeks from today, operation, execution and implementation of impugned judgment dated 01.08.2024, passed by the learned District Judge, Mandi Division, District Mandi and also the arbitral award dated 08.02.2023 shall remain stayed during the pendency of the appeal. The application stands disposed off. ( Romesh Verma) Judge April 29, 2026 ( veena)