NHAI vs. Roop Lal & anr. OMP(M) No. 410 of 2026 18.9.2026 Present: Ms. Shreya Chauhan, Advocate, for the applicant. Notice issued to respondents received back after due service. Despite service, no one has put appearance, on behalf of non-applicants. Further wait is not justifiable. The applicant has preferred the accompanying appeal, against the judgment 17.5.2022, passed by the Court of learned District Judge, Mandi, District Mandi, H.P. in Arbitration Petition No. 56 of 2019, titled as, ‘National Highways Authority of India versus Roop Lal & anr.’ Since, the appeal has been filed, after the prescribed period of limitation, as such, the present application has been moved for condonation of delay, which has been mentioned in the application as 4 years and 21 days. Delay has been sought to be condoned on the ground of administrative exigencies. The application has duly been supported by an affidavit of the Project Director, National Highways Authority of India. The allegations levelled in the application remain un-controverted, as despite service of notice, respondents have not bothered to put appearance to contest/controvert the allegations. Considering the aforesaid facts, delay in filing the application is ordered to be condoned. The application is, thus, disposed of. Arb. Appeal No __________ Be registered. Admit. OMPST No. 32246 of 2026 The appeal, preferred by the appellant/applicant will take sufficient long time, for its disposal. As such, during pendency of the appeal, execution of judgment, dated 17.5.2022, passed by the Court of learned District Judge, Mandi, District Mandi, H.P. in Arbitration Petition No. 56 of 2019, titled as, ‘National Highways Authority of India versus Roop Lal & anr.’ whereby the impugned award dated 5.9.2018, passed by the learned Divisional Commissioner, Mandi, exercising the power of Arbitrator, under National Highways Act, 1956, has been upheld, 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 September 18, 2026 (kalpana)