NHAI  Vs  Chet Ram & Anr. OMP (M) No. 484 of 2025 11.09.2026 Present: Mr. Sumeet Raj Sharma, Senior Advocate, with Mr. Santosh Kumar, Advocate, for the applicant. Mr. Peeyush Bhardwaj, Advocate, vice Mr. Amit Singh Chandel, Advocate, for respondent No. 1. Mr. H.S. Rawat & Mr. Mohinder Zharaick, Additional A.Gs., for respondent No. 2. Reply is not intended to be filed, on behalf of   respondent   No.   1,   whereas   sufficient opportunities   have   already   been   granted   to respondent No. 2. As such, right to file reply, is ordered to be closed. 2. The applicant has filed the accompanying appeal   under   Section   37   of   Arbitration   and Conciliation   Act,   1996   (hereinafter   referred   to   as ‘the Act’). Since, the appeal has been filed after the prescribed period of limitation, as such, by way of present application, indulgence of this Court has been sought to condone the delay of 163 days. 3. The delay has been sought to be condoned, on   the   ground   that   the   certified   copy   of   the judgment   was   misplaced   and   despite   the   efforts made   by   the   applicant,   the   same   could   not   be traced. As such, the delay in filing the appeal has been occurred. When the certified copy was found, the present appeal has been filed. The application is   duly   supported   by   the   affidavit   of   Mr. Varun Chari, Project Director. 4. Considering   the   said   averments,   which remained   unrebutted   and   uncontroverted,   this Court is of the view that the applicant is able to make out a case, for condonation of delay, as the said   uncontroverted   ground,   falls   within   the definition of ‘sufficient cause’. Consequently, the application is allowed and the delay in filing the appeal   is   ordered   to   be   condoned. Application stands disposed of. Arb. Appeal No. ______ of 2026 5. Vide order of the even date, passed in OMP(M) No. 484 of 2025, the delay in filing the appeal, has been ordered to be condoned. Appeal be registered. 6. Admit. OMPST No. 54100 of 2025 7. Considering   the   fact   that   the   accompanying appeal has been admitted for hearing, which will take sufficient   long   time,   for   its   disposal,   during   the pendency   of   the   appeal,   the   execution   of   the   award dated 07.08.2023, in case No. 383/2019, titled as ‘Chet Ram Vs National Highway Authority of India & Anr.’, passed by the learned Arbitrator shall remain stayed, subject   to   the   condition   that   the   applicant­appellant shall deposit the entire awarded amount, along with up­ to­date interest, within a period of eight weeks, from today. The application stands disposed of. 8. Alteration/ modification/ vacation on motion. ( Virender Singh ) Judge 11th September, 2026 (Pramod Kumar)