IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Arb. Case No.138 of 2025 Decided on: 14th October, 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lekh Raj …..Petitioner Versus Land Acquisition Officer and another .....Respondents ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coram Ms. Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua Whether approved for reporting?1 For the Petitioner: Mr. Ashok K. Sharma, Advocate. For the Respondents: Mr. Y.P.S. Dhaulta, Additional Advocate General, for respondent No.1. Ms. Sneh Bhimta, Advocate, for respondent No.2. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Judge The mandate of learned Arbitrator lapsed on 26.12.2022. This petition has been moved for extending the mandate of the learned Arbitrator for concluding the arbitral proceedings. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner has placed reliance upon Hari Singh Saini and Anr. Vs. Land Acquisition Officer and Anr.2, Pradeep Kumar & Ors. 1Whether reporters of print and electronic media may be allowed to see the order? Yes. 2 Arb. Case No.126 of 2025, decided on 27.06.2025 2 Vs. Land Acquisition Officer & Anr.3 and Goverdhan and others Vs. LAO and another4 in support of his prayer for extending the mandate of learned Arbitrator. 3. Learned counsel for the parties are ad-idem that in all such arbitration matters, where mandate of learned Arbitrator had expired on 26.12.2022, the same has been extended under orders passed in the aforesaid different arbitration cases. Learned counsel for the petitioner has also placed reliance upon the law summed up in Prem Laxmi and Company Vs. Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd.5 for extending the mandate of learned Arbitrator. 4. In view of orders already passed in Hari Singh Saini2, Pradeep Kumar3, Goverdhan4 and Prem Laxmi5, this petition is allowed. The mandate of learned Arbitrator in deciding the petition under reference is extended by six months from today. The parties, through their learned counsel, are directed to appear before the learned Arbitrator i.e. the Divisional Commissioner, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, on 16.10.2025. All rights and 3 Arb. Case No.188 of 2025, decided on 11.07.2025 4 Arb. Case No.142 of 2025, decided on 23.07.2025 5 Arb. Case No.877 of 2024, decided on 03.07.2025 3 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 October 14, 2025 Judge Mukesh