ORDER OCD - 6 IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA COMMERCIAL DIVISION ORIGINAL SIDE AP-COM/152/2026 SREI EQUIPMENT FINANCE LIMITED VS NITA PRAKASH HINDUJA 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 for 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 20.05.2024 had appointed a learned arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes between the parties. The statement of defence was filed by the respondent No.2 on 17.01.2025. Vide order dated 16.05.2025, the name of the respondent No.1 was deleted from the array of parties. Thereafter, respondent No.2 remained absent throughout and hence vide order dated 24.07.2025, the 2 tribunal allowed the application for proceeding ex-parte against the respondent No.2. The mandate of the arbitral tribunal expired on 05.02.2026. The tribunal has conducted more than 11 sittings and the matter is at the stage of ex-parte evidence. 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