Raj Kumar Singh And Others vs Laurel Investments Limited
2026 Latest Caselaw 4 Cal/2

Calcutta High Court

Raj Kumar Singh And Others vs Laurel Investments Limited on 5 January, 2026

O-4
                               ORDER SHEET

                    IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA
                             ORIGINAL SIDE

                               AP/209/2025

                     RAJ KUMAR SINGH AND OTHERS
                                 VS
                     LAUREL INVESTMENTS LIMITED


  BEFORE:
  The Hon'ble JUSTICE GAURANG KANTH
  Date : 5th January, 2026.
                                                                 Appearance:
                                             Mr. Saurabh Guhathakurata, Adv.
                                                   Mr. Abhratanu Sarkar, Adv.
                                                          ...for the petitioners

                                                     Mr.Rachit Lakhmani, Adv.
                                                     Mr. Shubham Gupta, Adv.
                                                              Md. Ayaan, Adv.
                                                Mr. Rajsekhar Bal Bakshi, Adv.
                                                          ...for the respondent

The Court: The petitioners have preferred the present application

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 19.01.2023 appointed the learned sole

Arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes between the parties. Upon expiry of the

initial mandate of the arbitral tribunal, the parties, by mutual consent

extended the mandate of the arbitral tribunal for a further period of six

months. Subsequently, this Court vide order dated 19.03.2025, extended

the mandate of the arbitral tribunal by further 8 months.The said extended

mandate of the arbitral tribunal expired on 8th December, 2025. The Arbitral

Tribunal held 27 hearings and concluded the evidence. The matter is now at

the final argument stage.

Learned Counsel for the respondent submits that although he has no

objection to the extension of the mandate of the arbitral tribunal, he seeks

substitution of the arbitrator. He contends that in terms of Section 29A(4) of

the Act, the mandate of the arbitrator stands terminated automatically upon

expiry of the prescribed period and that the substitution under Section

29A(6) thereof becomes mandatory for the Court. In support of his

submissions, he places reliance upon a judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme

Court reported in 2025 SCC OnLine SC 2754 (Mohan Lal Fatehpuria -

Versus- Bharat Textiles and Others). He seeks time to file affidavit(s).

Time to file affidavit-in-opposition is granted for a period of two weeks

from date. Affidavit-in-Reply thereto, if any, be filed within a period of one

week thereafter.

List this matter after four weeks.

(GAURANG KANTH, J.)

snn/sb.