OCD-17 ORDER SHEET IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA COMMERCIAL DIVISION ORIGINAL SIDE AP-COM/429/2026 M/S. RAJGANJ COKE PRODUCTS PRIVATE LIMITED VS M/S OCL IRON AND STEEL PRIVATE LIMITED BEFORE: The Hon’ble JUSTICE GAURANG KANTH Date : 17th June, 2026. Appearance: Mr. Rajarshi Dutta, Adv. Mr. Amit Meherai, Adv. Ms. Paramita Banerjee, Adv. Mr. Sayan Dey, Adv. Mr. Tamoghna Chattopadhyay, Adv. …for the petitioner Mr. Pourush Bandopadhyay, Adv. Mr. Rajesh Upadhyay, Adv. Ms. Surabita Biswas, Adv. ...for the respondent The Court :- Affidavit of service is taken on record. The petitioner has preferred the present application under Section 29A of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 seeking extension of the mandate of the arbitral tribunal for conclusion of the arbitral proceedings and publication of the arbitral award. Learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that this Court vide order dated 5th July, 2024 had appointed the learned Sole Arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes between the parties. The pleadings were completed on 22nd January, 2025. The mandate of the arbitral tribunal expired on 21st January, 2026. Since there was no mutual consent between the parties the mandate of the arbitral tribunal could not be extended any further. 2 The learned Counsel for the petitioner states that the matter is presently at the stage of recording of evidence of the witnesses. Learned Counsel for the respondent opposes the present petition and states that the erstwhile counsel for the petitioner had taken adjournments on frivolous ground, which resulted in delay in the arbitral proceedings. Upon consideration of the submissions of the parties and the materials placed on record, this Court is satisfied that there has been no undue and unwarranted delay on the part of the learned sole arbitrator in concluding the proceedings. The delay, if any, is attributable to the erstwhile counsel for the petitioner and not the learned sole Arbitrator or the present counsel conducting the arbitral proceedings. Having regard to the advanced stage of the arbitral proceedings and in the interest of justice, the mandate of the arbitral tribunal is extended further for a period of one year from today. The learned sole arbitrator is requested to make all reasonable endeavours to conclude the arbitral proceedings and publish the arbitral award within the extended time period. With the aforesaid directions, the present petition stands disposed of. (GAURANG KANTH, J.) S. A. AR (CR)