HIGH COURT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AND LADAKH AT SRINAGAR (THROUGH VIRTUAL MODE) CJ Court Case: AP No. 1/2026 Wasfiya Fayaz and Anr. ….. Appellant/Petitioner(s) Through: Mr. Imran Ashraf, Advocate. Vs Mannappuram Finance Limited and Ors. .…. Respondent(s) Through: Mr. Nasir Qadir Malik, Advocate (through virtual mode) CORAM: HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE ORDER 29.05.2026 CM No. 2697/2026 01. The applicants have moved this application seeking extension of period for concluding the arbitration proceedings pending before the Arbitrator. 02. Arbitration petition No. 37/2021 moved by the petitioners was allowed on 13.10.2023 and by virtue of the said order Sh. M A Makhdoomi, Advocate, High Court of J&K, Srinagar, has been appointed as sole arbitrator to conduct the arbitration proceedings. 03. It is stated that the arbitrator commenced the proceedings on 01.02.2024 and the period for making the award expired on 01.02.2025. Thereafter, the mutually consented, extended timeframe for passing the award expired on 01.08.2025, and the pleadings remain incomplete. It is further averred that an unavoidable medical emergency prevented the applicants from attending the arbitral proceedings. And, the resulting delay was entirely involuntary and Sr. No. 02 devoid of any malafide motive. Hence, the applicants have preferred the present application before this Court. 04. Ex facie the mandate of the Arbitrator has expired on 01.08.2025 and the present application has been moved by the applicants in terms of Section 29- A(5) of the Act for extension of the period.. 05. Learned counsel appearing for the respondents submits that he has no objection in extending the mandate of the Arbitrator. 06. In the wake of the position indicated above, and since the averments set out in the application constitute a sufficient cause, the application is allowed. The mandate of the arbitrator is, accordingly extended by a further period of six months from today. Since the mandate of the Arbitrator expired on 01.08.2025 as such period from 02.08.2025 to 28.05.2026 is regularized. 07. Disposed of accordingly. (ARUN PALLI) CHIEF JUSTICE Jammu 29.05.2026 Sunita