2026:HHC:9343 IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Arbitration Case No. 244 of 2025 Date of decision : 24.03.2026. Rani Bali ...Petitioner. Versus National Highway Authority of India & another ...Respondents. Coram: The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Romesh Verma, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 For the Petitioner: Mr.Varun Rana, Advocate. For the Respondents: Ms. Shreya Chauhan, Advocate, for respondent No.1 Mr. Diwakar Dev Sharma, Additional Advocate General for respondent No.2/State. ______________________________________________________________ Romesh Verma, Judge (oral) The present petition under Section 29 (4) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 has been filed by the petitioner seeking extension of time for completion of the arbitration proceedings in Arbitration Reference Case No. 342/2019, titled as Rani Bali vs NHAI and others, pending before the Divisional Commissioner-cum- Arbitrator at Mandi, District Mandi, H.P., exercising the powers of Arbitrator under Section 3 of the National Highways Act, 1956. 2 The arbitral dispute has arisen out of the land acquired in District Mandi, H.P. for the purpose of construction 1 Whether reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2026:HHC:9343 of the National Highway, land for which has been acquired under the provisions of National Highways Act, 1956. 3 Feeling aggrieved by the award passed by the competent authority, the land owner has preferred Arbitration Reference Case No.342/2019, before the Arbitrator cum- Divisional Commissioner, at Mandi District Mandi and non adjudication of the arbitral proceedings within the statutory period has resulted in filing of the instant petition. 4 The Reference Petition against the Award was filed by the land owner in the year 2019. According to the petitioner, on account of unforeseen circumstances in the case, which resulted in unnecessary delay in the announcement of the award by the learned Arbitrator, i.e. the Divisional Commissioner, Mandi, District Mandi, HP. 5 This Court has gone through the material available on record carefully and finds that the proceedings have been conducted by the Arbitrator in violation of statutory provisions, as contained in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. This Court is of the view that when a statute envisages an authority, be it an Arbitrator, to do a particular act in a particular manner and in a prescribed time schedule, then the onus is upon the said authority/Arbitrator to perform the task entrusted to it within the time schedule prescribed in the 2026:HHC:9343 statute. The delay, if any, has to be bonafide and explainable. However, in the present petition even after completion of the pleadings, the Arbitrator has closed the proceedings since the time limit for arbitral proceedings to pass an award had elapsed. 6 In view of aforesaid discussions and taking into consideration the attending facts and circumstance of the instant case, the Arbitrator-cum-Divisional Commissioner, Mandi, H.P., exercising the powers of Arbitrator under Section 3 of the National Highways Act, 1956 is directed to conclude the arbitral proceedings and to pass the arbitral award in Arbitration Reference Case No.342/2019, on or before 24th September, 2026. 7 The petition stands disposed of in the aforesaid terms. (Romesh Verma) March 24, 2026 Judge (meera)