NHAI vs. Roop Lal OMP(M) No. 457 of 2025 30.6.2026 Present: Mr. Santosh Kumar, Advocate vice Mr. Sumeet Raj Sharma, Advocate, for the applicant. None for the respondent. Right of the respondent to file reply has been closed, vide order dated 29.6.2026. By way of present application, delay is sought to be condoned in filing the accompanying appeal. As per the application, delay of 86 days, which, as per the averments of the application, has occurred, on account of administrative/official procedure, as before preferring the appeal, the same has to be dealt with, at various stages. The application has duly been supported by an affidavit of Project Director, NHAI, Project Implementation Unit-Mandi. The grounds upon which, delay has been sought to be condoned, have remained uncontroverted, as despite a number of opportunities given to the respondent, reply has not been filed. Considering the said fact, delay in filing the appeal, is ordered to be condoned. The application is, thus, disposed of. Arb. Appeal No. __________ Be registered. Notice be issued to the respondent, on steps being taken within a week, returnable within six weeks. OMPST No. 57536 of 2025 The appeal, preferred by the appellant will take sufficient long time, for its disposal. As such, during pendency of the appeal, execution of award, dated 8.12.2022, passed by the learned Divisional Commissioner, Mandi, exercising the powers of Arbitrator, under the National Highways Act, in case No. 780 of 2015, is ordered to be stayed, subject to deposit of the entire awarded amount, alongwith up- to-date interest, within a period of eight weeks from today. The application is, thus, disposed of. Modification/alteration/vacation, on motion. (Virender Singh) Judge June 30, 2026 (kalpana)