ORDER OCD - 5 IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA COMMERCIAL DIVISION ORIGINAL SIDE AP-COM/149/2026 SREI EQUIPMENT FINANCE LIMITED VS YARICO AGENCIES PRIVATE LIMITED BEFORE HON'BLE JUSTICE GAURANG KANTH Date: February 27, 2026. Appearance:- Mr. Swatarup Banerjee, Adv. Mr. Shaunak Ghosh, Adv. Mr. Rajib Mullick, Adv. Mr. Biswaroop Ghosh, Adv. …for petitioner. The Court:- Affidavit of service is taken on record. Despite service, none appears on behalf of the respondents. The petitioner has preferred the present petition 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. Mr. Banerjee, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that this Court vide order dated 03.09.2024 had appointed a learned arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes between the parties. The arbitral tribunal, vide order dated 16.05.2025, allowed the application for proceeding ex-parte against the respondent. The statement of claim was filed on 16.01.2025. Since the matter is proceeding ex-parte, the mandate of the arbitral tribunal expired on 2 16.01.2026. The tribunal has conducted more than 8 sittings. Learned counsel for the petitioner further states that the fees of the learned sole arbitrator have been paid. 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 arbitral 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 for a further 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 above directions, the present petition stands disposed of. (GAURANG KANTH, J.) R. D. Barua