OC- 5 ORDER SHEET IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA COMMERCIAL DIVISION ORIGINAL SIDE AP-COM/714/2026 R.K. ASSOCIATES AND HOTELIERS PRIVATE LIMITED VS EASTERN RAILWAY THROUGH ITS DEPUTY CHIEF COMMERCIAL MANAGER BEFORE: The Hon’ble JUSTICE GAURANG KANTH Date : 7th September, 2026. Appearance:- Mr. Arijit Basu, Adv. …for petitioner. Ms. Aparna Banerjee, Adv. …for respondent. The Court: - Affidavit of service is taken on record. 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. Learned counsel for the petitioner states that this Court vide order dated 25.01.2021 had appointed a learned sole arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes between the parties. The said arbitrator had recused himself from the arbitral proceedings and accordingly, this Court appointed a substituted arbitrator vide order dated 21.09.2023. After expiry of the mandate of the arbitral tribunal, the parties by mutual consent had extended the mandate of the learned sole arbitrator by six months till 08.08.2025. This Court vide order dated 20.08.2025 extended the mandate of the arbitral tribunal further for a period of one year. The matter is at the stage of trial. 2 Learned counsel for the respondent states that she has no objection to the extension of the mandate of the arbitral tribunal. Upon consideration 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 arbitral tribunal is extended for a further period of six 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 directions, the present petition stands disposed of. (GAURANG KANTH, J.) R. D. Barua