ORDER OD-2 IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION ORIGINAL SIDE AP/16/2026 MERLIN PROJECTS LIMITED VS ONKAR GARG AND OTHERS BEFORE HON'BLE JUSTICE GAURANG KANTH Date: February 04, 2026. Appearance:- Mr. Satadeep Bhattacharyya, Adv. Mr. Saptarshi Datta, Adv. Ms. Sriparna Mitra, Adv. Ms. Srinjita Ghosh, Adv. Mr. Pourush Kanti pal, Adv. Mr. DebdutHore, Adv. …for petitioner. Mr. Abdul Masood, Adv. Ms. Debanwita Pramanik, Adv. Mr. Simon Arora, Adv. Ms. Sayan Roy, Adv. …for respondents. The Court:-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. This Court, vide order dated 18.12.2023, appointed a learned arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes between the parties. The pleadings were completed on 21.06.2024. Subsequently, with the consent of the parties, the mandate of the arbitral tribunal was further extended for a period of six months till 20.12.2024. 2 It is submitted by the parties that the arbitral tribunal has already conducted more than 18 sittings. The matter is at the stage of evidence. Learned counsel for the respondents states that the respondents have no objection to the extension of the mandate of the arbitral tribunal. Upon consideration of the submissions of 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