IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH AT SHIMLA Arb.Case No.176 of 2025 Decided on: 20th June, 2025 _________________________________________________________________ Suresh Singh ....Petitioner Versus NHAI & Anr …Respondents _________________________________________________________________ Coram Ms. Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua, 1 Whether approved for reporting? _________________________________________________________________ For the petitioner: Ms. Varun Rana, Advocate. For the respondents: Ms. Shreya Chauhan, Advocate, for respondent No.1. Mr. L.N.Sharma, Additional Advocate General, for respondent No.2. Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Judge OMP No.844/2025 For the reasons stated in the application, the same is allowed. Delay in refiling the petition is condoned. Application to stand disposed of Arb.C. No. 176 of 2025 Notice. Ms. Shreya Chauhan, learned counsel and Mr. L.N.Sharma, learned Additional Advocate General, accept 1 Whether reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment? yes - 2 - service of notice on behalf of the respective respondents. 2. It is not in dispute that a Reference Petition bearing No.651 of 2018 preferred by the petitioner under 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 - 3 - 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 counsel, are directed to appear before the learned Arbitrator on 27.06.2025. 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 June 20, 2025 R.Atal