Sterlite Technologies Limited v. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited & Anr

O R D E R %

25.08.2026

¶1The present Petition under Section 29A of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 has been filed by the Petitioner for extending the mandate of the Arbitral Tribunal.

¶2Material on record indicates that an Arbitral Tribunal was constituted by this Court vide Order dated 23.01.2024 in ARB.P. 1081/2023. The mandate of the Arbitral Tribunal was extended from time to time and last such extension was granted by this Court vide Order dated 09.02.2026 in O.M.P.(MISC.)(COMM.) 150/2026, by which this Court had extended the mandate of the Arbitral Tribunal till 13.08.2026. Since the mandate of the Arbitral Tribunal has expired on 13.08.2026, the present Petition has been This is a digitally signed order. filed for extending the mandate of the Arbitral Tribunal.

¶3It is stated that the stage of the present case is fixed for final arguments, therefore, the mandate of the Arbitrator be extended for a period of 06 months.

¶4Learned Counsel appearing for the Respondent on advance notice states that the Respondent does not have any objection to the present Petition.

¶5The Apex Court in Rohan Builders (India) Private Limited v. Berger Paints India Limited, 2024 SCC OnLine SC 2494, has held that an application for extension of the time period for passing an arbitral award under Section 29A(4) read with Section 29A(5) is maintainable even after the expiry of the twelve-month or the extended six-month period, as the case may be.

¶6In view of the facts of the present case, this Court is inclined to regularize the period from 13.08.2026 till today and extend the mandate of the Arbitral Tribunal for a period of six months from today, so that the award can be pronounced.

¶7The petition is disposed of, along with the pending applications, if any. SUBRAMONIUM PRASAD, J AUGUST 25, 2026 Prateek This is a digitally signed order.

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI # CNR No. DLHC010378452026 + O.M.P.(MISC.)(COMM.) 638/2026 STERLITE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Amit Dhingra, Mr. Rohit Mahajan, Mr. Siddharth Agrawal and Ms. Kesang Tenzin Doma, Advs versus BHARAT SANCHAR NIGAM LIMITED & ANR. .....Respondents Through: Ms. Leena Tuteja and Ms. Ishita Kadyan, Advocates CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUBRAMONIUM PRASAD