OCD-9 ORDER SHEET IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA COMMERCIAL DIVISION ORIGINAL SIDE AP-COM/512/2026 COGNITION PROJECTS PVT LTD AND ANR VS DAMODAR VALLEY CORPORATION AND ORS BEFORE: The Hon’ble JUSTICE GAURANG KANTH Date : 10th July, 2026. Appearance: Mr. Subhabrata Datta, Adv. Mr. Jatindra Barik, Adv. Mr. Aranya Saha, Adv. …for the petitioner Mr. Subir Pal, Adv. …for DVC The Court: Affidavit of service is taken on record. The petitioner has preferred the present petition under Section 29A(5) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, seeking extension of the mandate of the Arbitral Tribunal for completion of the arbitral proceedings and publication of the arbitral award. This Court vide order dated 27.06.2023 had appointed the sole Arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes between the parties. The pleadings were completed on 01.10.2023. With the consent of the parties, the mandate of the arbitral tribunal was extended for six months till 15.05.2025. This Court vide order dated 19.05.2025 further extended the mandate of the Tribunal by one year. The parties were on the verge of concluding the final argument when at that stage, the respondent filed applications under 2 Sections 27 and 23(3) of the Act respectively before the arbitral tribunal. The learned Tribunal dismissed both the applications. Aggrieved thereby, the respondent challenged the said orders before this Court and the same is presently pending adjudication. During the pendency of the said proceedings, this Court directed the respondent to seek an adjournment before the learned Tribunal. Hence, the matter was adjourned awaiting directions from this Court. Since the mandate of the Tribunal was due to expire on 21.06.2026, the petitioner has preferred the present petition for extension of the mandate of the Tribunal. Learned Counsel for the respondent states that he has no objection to the extension of the mandate of the arbitral tribunal. Upon consideration of the submissions of both the parties and the materials placed on record, this Court is satisfied that there has been no undue or unwarranted delay on the part of the learned sole Arbitrator in conducting the proceedings. Having regard to the advanced stage of the proceedings and in the interest of justice, the mandate of the learned sole Arbitrator is extended further for a period of eight months 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 observations, the present petition stands disposed of. (GAURANG KANTH, J.) R.Bhar