IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH AT SHIMLA Arb.Case No.259 of 2025 Decided on: 19.08.2025 _________________________________________________________________ Ramesh Kumar Chugh ....Petitioner Versus NHAI & Anr …Respondents _________________________________________________________________ Coram Ms. Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Whether approved for reporting? _________________________________________________________________ For the petitioner: Mr. Suneet Verma, Advocate vice Mr. Varun Rana, Advocate. For the respondents: Ms. Shreya Chauhan, Advocate, for respondent No.1. Ms. Ayushi Negi, Deputy Advocate General, for respondent No.2. Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Judge Notice. Ms. Shreya Chauhan, learned Counsel and Ms. Ayushi Negi, learned Deputy Advocate General, accept service of notice on behalf of respondent No.1 and respondent No. 2, respectively. 2. It is not in dispute that a Reference Petition bearing No.1395 of 2017 preferred by the petitioner under - 2 - Section 3G of the National Highways Act is pending adjudication before the learned Arbitrator, i.e. the Divisional Commissioner, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. The period of 12 months in terms of Section 29A(1) of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996 (in short ‘the Act’), available to the learned Arbitrator for passing the award stands elapsed. The period specified under Section 29A(3) of the Act is also over, hence, the learned Arbitrator has closed the proceedings in view of termination of his mandate. In these circumstances, the petitioners have prayed for extending the time for pronouncing the award by six months. 3. I have heard learned counsel on both sides and considered the case file. It has been informed that in similar matters, taking recourse to Section 29A(4) of the Act, the Courts have extended the period for passing the award by six months. 4. The petitioner has made out a case for extending the period for deciding the arbitration proceedings by six months. Ordered accordingly. The mandate of learned Arbitrator in deciding the petition under reference is extended by six months from today. The parties, through their learned - 3 - counsel, are directed to appear before the learned Arbitrator on 22.08.2025. All rights and contentions of the parties are left open to be adjudicated by the learned Arbitrator. The petition stands disposed of in the above terms, so also the pending miscellaneous application(s), if any. Jyotsna Rewal Dua Judge August 19, 2025 R.Atal