Union of India and Ors v. Ms Ram Avtar Gupta

o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHoo o o 2"23o o o o o o o CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/ando FAO-24-2024o(O&M)o o o o o o o o Reservedoon:o25.08.2025o Pronouncedoono:o23.09.2025o o o UnionoofoIndiaothroughoChiefoEngineeroandootherso o o ...Appellantso o o o Versuso o M/soRamoAvtaroGuptaoo o ...Respondento o o o o o CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoHARSIMRANoSINGHoSETHIo o o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVIKASoSURIo o o Present:o Mr.oAshishoChaudhary,oAdvocateoforotheoappellants.oo o o o Mr.oWaziroSingh,oAdvocateoforotheoapplicant/respondent.oo oo o o o o o o o *****o o VIKASoSURI,oJ.o

1.o o Theo challengeo ino theo presento appealo iso too theo ordero datedo

21.02.2024o passedo byo theo learnedo Additionalo Districto Judge-cum-PresidingoJudge,oExclusiveoCommercialoCourtoatoGurugram,oexercisingo jurisdictionounderotheoCommercialoCourtsoAct,o2015o(hereinafteroreferredo tooaso'theoCommercialoCourtsoAct'),owherebyotwooapplications,ooneoundero Ordero7oRuleo11oreadowithoSectiono151oofotheoCodeoofoCiviloProcedure,o 1908o(foroshorto'CPC')oandotheootheroapplicationounderoSectiono14oando Sectiono5oofotheoLimitationoAct,o1963,owereodisposedoofobyoaocommono order.oTheoformeroapplicationohasobeenoallowedowhereasotheolatterohaso beenodismissed.oo CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -2-o o

2.o o LearnedocounseloforotheoappellantsosubmitsothatoanoArbitralo Awardodatedo03.08.2019ocameotoobeopassedobyotheosoleoArbitrator,oarisingo fromo agreemento No.17/EE/KCD/2010-11,o regardingo shedo foro 200o (150+50)omilchoanimalowithoautomaticofeeding,ocleaning,omilkingoandodatao recordingosystemoatoCIRBoHisar,oincludingointernaloelectricaloinstallation.o

2.1o o Theo appellantso movedo ano applicationo beforeo theo Courto ofo learnedoDistrictoJudge,oKarnalounderoSectiono34oofotheoArbitrationoando ConciliationoAct,o1996o(hereinafteroreferredotooaso'theoArbitrationoAct')o forosettingoasideoofotheoarbitraloawardodatedo03.08.2019o(supra).oTheosaido objectionopetitionowasoopposedobyotheorespondent-contractor.oTheolearnedo AdditionaloDistrictoJudge,oKarnal,ovideoorderodatedo03.07.2023o(Annexureo A-3),oorderedoreturnoofotheoobjectionsounderoSectiono34oofotheoArbitrationo Act,oforowantoofoterritorialojurisdiction.o

2.2o o Theoappellants,oafteroreceiptoofotheooriginaloobjectionopetitiono ono 01.09.2023,o presentedo theo sameo beforeo theo Commercialo Courto ato Gurugramo ono 11.09.2023.o Ono re-filingo theo objectiono petitiono undero Sectiono34oofotheoArbitrationoAct,otheosameohasobeenocontestedobyotheo respondent-contractoro byo filingo reply,o whereino certaino preliminaryo objectionsohaveobeenoraised.oo

2.3o o Theomainoboneoofocontentionobeingothatore-filingoofotheosuprao objectionso beforeo theo Commercialo Courto ato Gurugramo waso beyondo theo prescribedolimitationoandohence,otheosameowereobarredobyolaw.oOnotheo sameolines,oanoapplicationounderoOrdero7oRuleo11oCPCowasoalsoofiledo statingo thato theo petitiono waso liableo toobeo rejected.o Theo appellantso filedo replyotootheosaidoapplicationoandothereafter,omovedoanoapplicationoundero CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -3-o o Sectiono 14o ando Sectiono 5o ofo theo Limitationo Act,o 1963o (foro shorto 'theo LimitationoAct')ostatingothatotheoobjectionopetitionounderoSectiono34oofotheo ArbitrationoActowasoreturnedobyotheolearnedoCourtoatoKarnal,oforowantoofo jurisdiction,othus,oprayerowasoforoexclusionoofotheotimeoconsumedoinotheo saidoproceedings,owhileocomputingotheoperiodoofolimitationoforore-filingo theosaidoobjectionopetitionobeforeotheocompetentoCourtoatoGurugram.oo

2.4o o Itoisofurtherotheocaseoofotheoappellantsothatoonotheosameodate,o theoexecutionopetitionowithosimilarocauseotitleowasoalsoopendingobeforeotheo saidoCourtoatoKarnal.oTheoclerkoofotheocounseloofotheoappellantsocameotoo knowoaboutotheodateoofotheocase,ohavingobeenoadjournedotoo02.08.2023.o Wheno theo counselo foro theo appellantso appearedo ono theo saido date,o ito transpiredo thato theo objectiono petitiono hado alreadyo beeno orderedo too beo returnedo foro presentationo too theo competento Courto ato Gurugramo havingo jurisdictionoinotheomatter,ovideoorderodatedo03.07.2023.oCopyoofotheoordero datedo 03.07.2023o waso obtainedo ono theo sameo dayo ando theo Additionalo SolicitoroGeneraloofoIndiaowasoapproachedowithotheorequestotoomarkotheo matterotootheoCentraloGovernmentoStandingoCounselobeforeothisoCourt.o Theo recordo ofo theo caseo waso handedo overo too theo appointedo counselo ono

16.08.2023,o whoo video hiso opiniono datedo 26.08.2023,o sento byo e-mail,o advisedotoopresentotheomatterobeforeotheolearnedoDistrictoJudge,oGurugram,o inotermsoofoorderodatedo03.07.2023.o

2.5o o Thereafter,oAdditionaloSolicitoroGeneraloofoIndiaowasoagaino approached,owhoomarkedotheocaseotootheoStandingoGovernmentoCounseloato DistrictoGurugram,ovideoe-mailodatedo28.08.2023.oTheoentireorecordowaso handedooverotootheosaidocounsel,owhoore-filedotheoobjectionopetitionoundero CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -4-o o Sectiono 34o ofo theo Arbitrationo Acto beforeo theo competento Courto ato Gurugram,oono11.09.2023.oItois,othus,opleadedothatotheotimeospentobeforeo theoCourtsoatoKarnal,owhichodidonotohaveojurisdiction,obeoexcludedoundero Sectiono14oofotheoLimitationoActoandotheodelay,oifoany,obeocondonedoundero Sectiono5oofotheoActoibid.ooo

2.6o o Theoaforesaidoapplication,ointeroalia,oseekingocondonationoofo delay,owasocontestedobyotheorespondentobyofilingoreply,owhereinocertaino preliminaryoobjectionsohaveobeenoraisedoregardingomaintainabilityoofotheo application.oItoisopleadedothatotheoappellantsohaveofiledotheopetitionoundero Sectiono34oofotheoArbitrationoActobeforeotheoCourtoconcernedoatoGurugramo afteroaodelayoofo1413odaysofromotheodateoofopassingoofotheoaward,oi.e.o

03.08.2019oandohence,ocannotobeopermittedotooavailobenefitoofoSectionso14o ando5oofotheoLimitationoAct.oo

2.7o o Theo learnedo Additionalo Districto Judge,o Karnal,o aftero consideringo theo pleadingso ando theo rivalo contentionso raisedo byo botho theo parties,o dismissedo theo applicationo undero Sectionso 14o ando 5o ofo theo Limitationo Acto ando accordingly,o partlyo acceptedo theo applicationo undero Ordero7oRuleo11oCPCofororejectionoofotheopetition,ovideoimpugnedoordero datedo21.02.2024.oo

3.o o Learnedocounseloforotheoappellantsohasostrenuouslyocontendedo thatotheoprinciplesoenshrinedounderoSectiono14oofotheoLimitationoActocano beoappliedoevenowhenoSectiono5oofotheosaidoActoisonotoapplicable.oRelianceo isoplacedouponotheodecisionoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoM.P.oSteelo Corporationovs.oCommissioneroofoCentraloExcise,o2015(3)oRCRo(Civil)o

965.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo appellantso wouldo furthero refero too theo CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -5-o o avermentsomadeoinotheoapplicationounderoSectiono14oandoSectiono5oofotheo Limitationo Acto too contendo thato ono comingo too knowo ono 02.08.2023,o ofo passingoofotheoorderodatedo03.07.2023,owherebyotheoobjectionopetitionowaso orderedotoobeoreturnedoforobeingopresentedobeforeotheoCourtoofocompetento jurisdiction,o theo mattero waso immediatelyo takeno upo witho theo learnedo Additionalo Solicitoro Generalo ofo India,o whoo markedo ito too theo Centralo GovernmentoStandingoCounsel.oTheorecordoofotheocaseowasohandedooverotoo theo saido counselo ono 16.08.2023o ando video e-mailo datedo 26.08.2023,o ano opiniono waso receivedo too presento theo mattero beforeo theo learnedo Districto Judge,oGurugramoasoperotheoorderodatedo03.07.2023.oTheosaidoopinionowaso acceptedoandoactedouponoandotheoAdditionaloSolicitoroGeneralowasoagaino approachedovideoe-mailodatedo26.08.2023oforoassigningotheomatterotootheo Standingo Governmento Counsel,o Districto Gurugram.o Theo mattero was,o thereafter,o entrustedo too theo Standingo Governmento Counselo beforeo theo DistrictoCourt,oGurugram,ovideoe-mailodatedo28.08.2023oandotheorecordo wasohandedooverotootheosaidocounsel,owhoore-filedotheoobjectionopetitionoono

11.09.2023.oThus,othereoisonoodelayoonotheopartoofotheoappellants.oo

3.1o o Itoisofurtherocontendedoonobehalfoofotheoappellantsothatotheo limitationoperiodounderotheoArbitrationoActoisocondonable.oReferenceoiso madeotootheodecisionoinoGovernmentoofoMaharashtrao(WateroResourceso Department)orepresentedobyoExecutiveoEngineerovs.oM/soBorseoBrotherso Engineerso&oContractorsoPvt.oLtd,oreportedoino(2021)o6oSCCo460.oo

4.o o Perocontra,olearnedocounseloforotheorespondentohasodefendedo theoimpugnedoorderodatedo21.02.2024.oItoisostronglyorefutedothatoSectiono5o asowelloasoSectiono14oofotheoLimitationoActoareonotoapplicableobeyondotheo CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -6-o o 'prescribedoperiod'oofolimitationoforomakingoanoapplicationoseekingosettingo asideo ano arbitralo award.o Relianceo iso placedo upono theo decisionso ofo Coordinateo Bencheso renderedo ino FAO-CARB-39-2018o decidedo ono

23.10.2018otitledoasoM/soGurgaonoPackagingoPvt.oLtd.oandoanotherovs.o M/soScholasticoIndiaoPvt.oLtd.,o2018:PHHC:122310-DBoandoinoFAO-CARB-29-2022otitledoasoStateoofoPunjabovs.oMakhanoLaloandoanother,o reportedoino2023(1)oPLRo171.oItoisosubmittedothatoinobothotheoaforesaido decisions,otheolawosettledobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoM/soSimplexo InfrastructureoLtd.ovs.oUnionoofoIndia,oreportedoino(2019)o2oSCCo455oando inoUnionoofoIndiaovs.oM/soPopularoConstructionoCo.,oreportedoino(2001)o8o SCCo 470,o haso beeno appliedo ando followed.o Ito iso furthero submittedo thato thoughotheoobjectionopetitionounderoSectiono34oofotheoArbitrationoActowaso initiallyofiledowithinotheoprescribedoperiodoofolimitationoofothreeomonths,o butobeforeoaoCourtothatodidonotohaveojurisdiction,oi.e.otheoCourtoatoKarnal.o Theoobjectionopetitionowasocorrectlyoorderedotoobeoreturned,ovideoordero datedo03.07.2023.oTheosaidopetitionowasopresentedobeforeotheoCourtoofo competentojurisdictionoatoGurugram,oonlyoono11.09.2023.oTherefore,oaftero expiryo ofo theo periodo ofo threeo months,o whicho ato besto couldo haveo beeno extendedobyotheoCourtoinoexerciseoofoitsojudicialodiscretionobyoanothero30o days,otheoobjectionopetitionowasotimeobarredoandohasobeenorightlyorejectedo byotheoCourtoconcerned.oItoisofurtherosubmittedothatothereoisonooinfirmityoino theoimpugnedoorderodatedo21.02.2024,opassedobyotheolearnedoAdditionalo Districto Judge-cum-Presidingo Judge,o Exclusiveo Commercialo Courto ato Gurugram,oexercisingojurisdictionounderotheoCommercialoCourtsoAct.oo CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -7-o o

5.o o Weohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoandoperusedo theorecordowithotheiroableoassistance.o

6.o o Theofactualoaspectoisonotoinodispute.oAdmittedly,otheoawardo publishedo ono 03.08.2019o waso receivedo byo theo appellants/objectoro ono

06.08.2019oandotheoobjectionopetitionowasofiledobeforeotheolearnedoDistricto Judge,oKarnal,owithinotheoprescribedoperiodoofolimitationounderoSectiono34o ofo theo Arbitrationo Act.o Ito iso alsoo concededo thato theo saido petitiono waso orderedotoobeoreturnedovideoorderodatedo03.07.2023,owhichowasocollectedo fromotheoCourtoconcernedoatoKarnaloono01.09.2023oandore-filedobeforeotheo competentoCourtoatoGurugram,oono11.09.2023.ooo

7.o o Theoquestionsothatoariseoinotheopresentocaseoforoconsiderationo areo(i)owhetheroinotheopeculiarofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheopresentocase,o theoappellantsoareoentitledotooexclusionoofotimeoduringowhichotheyohaveo beenoprosecutingotheoobjectionopetitionounderoSectiono34oofotheoArbitrationo ActobeforeotheoCourtoatoKarnal,owhichoCourtowasonotoableotooentertainoito foro wanto ofo territorialo jurisdiction;o ando (ii)o whethero Sectiono 5o ofo theo LimitationoActowouldoapplyotootheoperiodoofo30odaysoprescribedounderotheo provisootooSectiono34o(3)oofotheoArbitrationoAct.ooo

8.o o Tooappreciateotheoissueoarisingoinotheopresentoappealoinoitso correctoperspective,oitowouldobeonecessaryotooreferotootheoprovisionothato prescribesotheoperiodoofolimitationoregardingotheoobjectionopetitionoundero Sectiono34oofo theo Arbitrationo Act,o aso wello asotheointerplayo ofo theotwoo statuesoinvolved,oi.e.otheospecialolawovisoaovisotheogeneralolaw,oviz.otheo ArbitrationoActoandotheoLimitationoAct.oo

8.1.oo o Sectiono34oofotheoArbitrationoAct,oreadsoasothus:-o CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -8-o o

34.o Applicationo foro settingo asideo arbitralo award.―(1)o Recourseo too ao Courto againsto ano arbitralo awardomayobeomadeoonlyobyoanoapplicationoforosettingo asideosuchoawardoinoaccordanceowithosub-sectiono(2)oando sub-sectiono(3).o

(2)ooxoxoxoxoxo

(2A)oxoxoxoxoo

(3)oAnoapplicationoforosettingoasideomayonotobeo madeoafterothreeomonthsohaveoelapsedofromotheodateoono whichotheopartyomakingothatoapplicationohadoreceivedotheo arbitralo awardo or,o ifo ao requesto hado beeno madeo undero sectiono33,ofromotheodateoonowhichothatorequestohadobeeno disposedoofobyotheoarbitralotribunal:o o Providedo thato ifo theo Courto iso satisfiedo thato theo applicantowasopreventedobyosufficientocauseofromomakingo theoapplicationowithinotheosaidoperiodoofothreeomonthsoito mayoentertainotheoapplicationowithinoaofurtheroperiodoofo thirtyodays,obutonotothereafter.oo o

9.o o Ao perusalo ofo theo aforesaido provisiono wouldo showo thato theo periodoofolimitationoprescribedoforomakingoanoapplicationoforosettingoasideo theoawardounderoSectiono34oofotheoArbitrationoActoisothreeomonths.oTheo provisootooSectiono34o(3)ocarvesooutoanoexceptionothatoonotheoapplicanto showingosufficientocauseoforonotomakingotheoapplicationowithinotheosaido periodoofothreeomonths,otheoCourtoonobeingosatisfiedoofotheoaforesaid,omayo entertaino theo applicationo withino ao furthero periodo ofo 30o days,o buto noto thereafter.oo

9.1o o Sectiono14oofotheoLimitationoActoprovidesothatoinocomputingo theoperiodoofolimitationoforoanyosuit,otheotimeoduringowhichotheoapplicanto hasobeenoprosecutingowithodueodiligenceoanotherociviloproceedingoshallobeo excluded,owhereotheoproceedingsorelatesotootheosameomatteroinoissueoandoiso CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -9-o o prosecutedoinogoodofaithoinoaoCourt,owhichoisounableotooentertainoitoforo wantoofojurisdictionoorootherocauseoofoaolikeonature.oo

10.o o Ao similaro issue,o regardingo theo interplayo ofo theo limitationo providedounderosub-sectiono3oofoSectiono34oofotheoArbitrationoActoandotheo applicabilityoofoSectiono4oofotheoLimitationoAct,owasoconsideredobyotheo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoCiviloAppealoNo.2014oofo2006odecidedoono

19.01.2012otitledoasoAssamoUrbanoWateroSupplyoandoSewerageoBoardovs.o SubashoProjectsoandoMarketingoLimited,oreportedoino(2012)o2oSCCo624.o Theorelevantoportionoofotheosaidojudgmentoreadsoasothus:-o "11.o Theo question,o therefore,o thato fallso foro ouro determinationo iso whethero theo appellantso areo entitledo too extensionoofotimeounderoSectiono4oofotheo1963oActoinotheo aboveofacts?o o 12.oSectiono4oofotheo1963oActoreadsoasounder:o "4.oExpiryoofoprescribedoperiodowhenocourto iso closed.―Whereo theo prescribedo periodo foro anyo suit,oappealooroapplicationoexpiresoonoaodayowheno theocourtoisoclosed,otheosuit,oappealooroapplicationo mayo beo instituted,o preferredo oro madeo ono theo dayo whenotheocourtoreopens.o Explanation.―Ao courto shallo beo deemedo too beoclosedoonoanyodayowithinotheomeaningoofothiso sectiono ifo duringo anyo parto ofo itso normalo workingo hoursoitoremainsoclosedoonothatoday."o Theoaboveosectionoenablesoaopartyotooinstituteoaosuit,oprefero ano appealo oro makeo ano applicationo ono theo dayo theo courto reopensowhereotheoprescribedoperiodoforoanyosuit,oappealo oroapplicationoexpiresoonotheodayowhenotheocourtoisoclosed.o

13.oTheocrucialowordsoinoSectiono4oofotheo1963oActo areo "prescribedo period".o Whato iso theo meaningo ofo theseo words?o

14.oSectiono2(j)oofotheo1963oActodefines:o CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -10-o o "2.o(j)o'periodoofolimitation'o[which]omeanso theo periodo ofo limitationo prescribedo foro anyo suit,o appealo oro applicationo byo theo Schedule,o ando 'prescribedoperiod'omeansotheoperiodoofolimitationo computedoinoaccordanceowithotheoprovisionsoofothiso Act;"o Sectiono2(j)oofotheo1963oActowhenoreadoinotheocontextoofo Sectiono34(3)oofotheo1996oAct,oitobecomesoamplyoclearothato theoprescribedoperiodoforomakingoanoapplicationoforosettingo asideoanoarbitraloawardoisothreeomonths.oTheoperiodoofo30o daysomentionedoinotheoprovisoothatofollowsosub-sectiono(3)o ofo Sectiono 34o ofo theo 1996o Acto iso noto theo "periodo ofo limitation"oand,otherefore,onototheo"prescribedoperiod"oforo theopurposesoofomakingotheoapplicationoforosettingoasideo theoarbitraloaward.oTheoperiodoofo30odaysobeyondothreeo monthsowhichotheocourtomayoextendoonosufficientocauseo beingoshownounderotheoprovisooappendedotoosub-sectiono

(3)oofoSectiono34oofotheo1996oActobeingonototheo"periodoofo limitation"oor,oinootherowords,otheo"prescribedoperiod",oino ouro opinion,o Sectiono 4o ofo theo 1963o Acto iso not,o ato all,o attractedotootheofactsoofotheopresentocase."o o

11.o o Ito iso triteo lawo thato theo provisionso ofo "specialo law"o wouldo prevailooverothoseounderotheo"generalolaw".oItoisonotableothatotheoperiodoofo limitationotoofileoanoapplicationounderoSectiono34oofotheoArbitrationoActoiso prescribedoinothatoprovisionoitselfoandobeingospecialolimitation,oitowouldo overrideotheogeneralolimitationounderotheoLimitationoAct.oTheoprovisootoo Sectiono 34o (3)o ofo theo Arbitrationo Acto iso wordedo ino ao manner,o whicho expresslyoprohibitsograntoofoanyofurtherotimeothanothatowhichoisospecifiedo inotheosaidoproviso,oitself.oItoisoundisputableothatotheoArbitrationoActoisoao specialolawoandoSectiono34oofotheoArbitrationoActoprovidesoforoaoperiodoofo limitationodifferentofromothatoprescribedounderotheoLimitationoAct.oSectiono 29o(2)oofotheoLimitationoActofurtheroprovidesothatowhereoanyospecialooro CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -11-o o localo lawo prescribeso ao periodo ofo limitationo differento fromo theo periodo prescribedobyotheoscheduleotootheoLimitationoAct,otheoprovisionsoofoSectiono 3,oprescribingotheobaroofolimitation,oareotooapplyoasoifosuchoperiodowereotheo "periodoprescribed"obyotheoscheduleoandoforotheopurposesoofodeterminingo theo periodo ofo limitationo byo anyo specialo oro localo law,o theo provisionso containedoinoSectionso4otoo24o(inclusive)oshalloapplyoonlyoinsofaroasoandotoo theoextentotoowhich,otheyoareonotoexpresslyoexcludedobyosuchospecialooro localolaw.oAsoalreadyonoticedohereinabove,otheoprovisootooSectiono34o(3)oofo theoArbitrationoActocreatesoaorestrictionoonoentertainingoaopetitionoundero Sectiono34oofotheoActoibid,obeyondoaoperiodoofo30odaysoafterotheoexpiryoofo theoprescribedoperiodoofothreeomonths.oMeaningotherebyothatotheodelayoino filingotheoobjectionopetitionounderoSectiono34oofotheoArbitrationoAct,oaftero theo stipulatedo periodo ofo threeo monthso ando furthero 30o dayso allowedo ono sufficientocauseobeingoshownotootheoCourt,ocannotobeoextendedoanyofurther.o Therefore,oonoaccountoofotheoapplicabilityoofotheoprovisionoofoSectiono29o

(2)oofotheoLimitationoActoinotheopresentosituation,otheoprovisionsocontainedo inoSectionso4otoo24oofotheoLimitationoActoshallonotoapplyotootheoperiodo beyondothatoprescribedounderotheomainoprovisionoofoSectiono34o(3)oofotheo Arbitrationo Act,oi.e.oaftero expiryo ofo threeo months.o Thus,otheobenefitoofo Sectiono14oofotheoLimitationoActowouldonotobeoavailableotootheoappellants,o afterotheoexpiryoofotheoprescribedoperiodoofolimitation,oi.e.othreeomonths.oo

12.o o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Court,o ino theo decisiono renderedo ino PopularoConstructionoCompany'socaseo(supra),oheldothatoSectiono5oofotheo LimitationoActoisonotoapplicableotootheoproceedingsounderoSectiono34oofo theoArbitrationoActoforosettingoasideoarbitraloaward.oTheowordso"butonoto CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -12-o o thereafter"oinoprovisootoosub-sectiono3oamountotooanoexpressoexclusiono withinotheomeaningoofoSectiono29o(2)oofotheoLimitationoAct.oTheorelevanto portionoofotheosaidojudgmentoisoreproducedohereunder:-o "12.oAsofaroasotheolanguageoofoSectiono34oofotheo 1996o Acto iso concerned,o theo crucialo wordso areo "buto noto thereafter"ousedoinotheoprovisootoosub-sectiono(3).oInoouro opinion,othisophraseowouldoamountotooanoexpressoexclusiono withinotheomeaningoofoSectiono29(2)oofotheoLimitationoAct,o andowouldothereforeobarotheoapplicationoofoSectiono5oofo thatoAct.oParliamentodidonotoneedotoogoofurther.oTooholdo thatotheocourtocouldoentertainoanoapplicationotoosetoasideo theoawardobeyondotheoextendedoperiodounderotheoproviso,o wouldo rendero theo phraseo "buto noto thereafter"o whollyo otiose.oNooprincipleoofointerpretationowouldojustifyosuchoao result.oo

13.o Aparto fromo theo language,o "expresso exclusion"o mayofollowofromotheoschemeoandoobjectoofotheospecialooro localolaw:o "[E]veno ino ao caseo whereo theo specialo lawo doeso noto excludeo theo provisionso ofo Sectionso 4o too 24o ofo theo Limitationo Acto byo ano expresso reference,o ito wouldo nonethelessobeoopenotootheocourtotooexamineowhethero andotoowhatoextentotheonatureoofothoseoprovisionsooro theonatureoofotheosubject-matteroandoschemeoofotheo specialolawoexcludeotheirooperation."oo o o14.oHereotheohistoryoandoschemeoofotheo1996oActo supporto theo conclusiono thato theo time-limito prescribedo underoSectiono34otoochallengeoanoawardoisoabsoluteoando unextendibleobyocourtounderoSectiono5oofotheoLimitationo Act.o Theo Arbitrationo ando Conciliationo Bill,o 1995o whicho precededotheo1996oActostatedoasooneoofoitsomainoobjectiveso theoneedo"toominimiseotheosupervisoryoroleoofocourtsoinotheo arbitraloprocess"o[Parao4(v)oofotheoStatementoofoObjectso ando Reasonso ofo theo Arbitrationo ando Conciliationo Act,o 1996].oThisoobjectiveohasofoundoexpressionoinoSectiono5oofo CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -13-o o theo Acto whicho prescribeso theo extento ofo judicialo interventionoinonoouncertainoterms:o "5.o Extento ofo judicialo intervention.― Notwithstandingo anythingo containedo ino anyo othero lawoforotheotimeobeingoinoforce,oinomattersogovernedo byo thiso Part,o noo judicialo authorityo shallo interveneo exceptowhereosooprovidedoinothisoPart."o

15.oTheo"Part"oreferredotooinoSectiono5oisoPartoIoofo theo 1996o Acto whicho dealso witho domestico arbitrations.o Sectiono34oisocontainedoinoPartoIoandoisothereforeosubjectotoo theosweepoofotheoprohibitionocontainedoinoSectiono5oofotheo 1996oAct.o

16.oFurthermore,oSectiono34(1)oitselfoprovidesothato recourseotooaocourtoagainstoanoarbitraloawardomayobeomadeo onlyobyoanoapplicationoforosettingoasideosuchoawardo"ino accordanceo with"o sub-sectiono (2)o ando sub-sectiono (3).o Sub-sectiono (2)o relateso too groundso foro settingo asideo ano awardo ando iso noto relevanto foro ouro purposes.o Buto ano applicationofiledobeyondotheoperiodomentionedoinoSectiono 34,o sub-sectiono (3)o wouldo noto beo ano applicationo "ino accordanceowith"othatosub-section.oConsequentlyobyovirtueo ofoSectiono34(1),orecourseotootheocourtoagainstoanoarbitralo awardocannotobeomadeobeyondotheoperiodoprescribed.oTheo importanceo ofo theo periodo fixedo undero Sectiono 34o iso emphasisedobyotheoprovisionsoofoSectiono36owhichoprovideo thato "whereotheotimeoforomakingoanoapplicationotooseto asideo theo arbitralo awardo undero Sectiono 34o haso expiredo…otheoawardoshallobeoenforcedounderotheo CodeoofoCiviloProcedure,o1908oinotheosameomannero asoifoitowereoaodecreeoofotheocourt".o Thisoisoaosignificantodepartureofromotheoprovisionsoofotheo ArbitrationoAct,o1940.oUnderotheo1940oAct,oafterotheotimeo toosetoasideotheoawardoexpired,otheocourtowasorequiredotoo "proceedotoopronounceojudgmentoaccordingotootheoaward,o ando upono theo judgmento soo pronouncedo ao decreeo shallo follow"o(Sectiono17).oNowotheoconsequenceoofotheotimeo expiringo undero Sectiono 34o ofo theo 1996o Acto iso thato theo CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -14-o o awardo becomeso immediatelyo enforceableo withouto anyo furtheroactoofotheocourt.oIfothereowereoanyoresidualodoubto onotheointerpretationoofotheolanguageousedoinoSectiono34,o theoschemeoofotheo1996oActowouldoresolveotheoissueoino favouro ofo curtailmento ofo theo court'so powerso byo theo exclusionoofotheooperationoofoSectiono5oofotheoLimitationo Act."o Theo aboveo reproducedo parto ofo theo judgmento showso thato questiono (ii),o formulatedo ino paragrapho 7o hereinabove,o iso noo longero reso integra,o ando standsoauthoritativelyodeterminedobyotheoApexoCourt.oo

13.o o Theo aforesaido viewo haso beeno reiteratedo byo ao threeooooooooooooooooo judge-BenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoCiviloAppealoNo.4028oofo 2020odecidedoono11.02.2021otitledoasoChintelsoIndiaoLimitedovs.oBhayanao BuildersoPrivateoLimited,oreportedoino(2021)o4oSCCo602,owhereinoitohaso beenoheldothatoSectiono5oofotheoLimitationoActodoesonotoapplyotooobjectionso underoSectiono34oofotheoArbitrationoAct.oTheorelevantoobservationsoinoparao 11oofotheosaidojudgmentoreadoasothus:-o "11.o Ao readingo ofo Sectiono 34(1)o wouldo makeo ito clearothatoanoapplicationomadeotoosetoasideoanoawardohasotoo beoinoaccordanceowithobothosub-sectionso(2)oando(3).oThiso wouldomeanothatosuchoapplicationowouldonotoonlyohaveotoo beowithinotheolimitationoperiodoprescribedobyosub-sectiono

(3),obutowouldothenohaveotoosetooutogroundsounderosub-sectionso (2)o and/oro (2-A)o foro settingo asideo sucho award.o Whatofollowsofromothisoisothatotheoapplicationoitselfomusto beowithinotime,oandoifonotowithinoaoperiodoofothreeomonths,o mustobeoaccompaniedowithoanoapplicationoforocondonationo ofodelay,oprovidedoitoisowithinoaofurtheroperiodoofo30odays,o thiso Courto havingo madeo ito clearo thato Sectiono 5o ofo theo LimitationoAct,o1963odoesonotoapplyoandothatoanyodelayo beyondo120odaysocannotobeocondoned."o CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -15-o o oo

14.o o InoaorecentojudgmentorenderedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto ino Civilo Appealo No.336o ofo 2025o decidedo ono 10.01.2025,o titledo aso Myo PreferredoTransformationoandoHospitalityoPrivateoLimitedoandoanothero vs.oFaridabadoImplementsoPrivateoLimited,oreportedoino(2025)o6oSCCo 481,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtowasoexaminingotheoissueowhetherotheo benefitoofotheoadditionalo30odaysounderotheoprovisootooSectiono34o(3)oofotheo ArbitrationoAct,owhichoexpiredoduringotheovacation,ocanobeogivenowhenotheo petitionoisofiledoimmediatelyoafteroreopening,oinoexerciseoofopoweroundero Sectiono4oofotheoLimitationoAct.oAfteronoticingoaoplethoraoofojudgmentso relevantotootheoissue,otheiroLordshipsoofotheoApexoCourtosummarizedotheo currento positiono ofo lawo whileo highlightingo certaino concernso witho theo currentolegalopositionoandotheiroconclusion,oasounder:-o "Summarisingotheocurrentopositionoofolawo

40.oFromotheoreasoningoandodecisionsoinotheoaboveo cases,otheofollowingoconclusionsoevidentlyofollow:o

40.1.oFirst,oSectiono4oofotheoLimitationoActoapplieso tooSectiono34(3)oofotheoACA.o

40.2.Second,o Sectiono 4o ofo theo Limitationo Acto benefitsoaopartyoonlyowhenotheo"prescribedoperiod"oi.e.otheo 3-montholimitationoperiodounderoSectiono34(3)oexpiresoono aocourtoholiday.oInosuchoaosituation,otheoapplicationoundero Sectiono34owillobeoconsideredoasohavingobeenofiledowithino theolimitationoperiodoifoitoisofiledoonotheonextoworkingodayo ofotheoCourt.o

40.3.oThird,oSectiono4oofotheoLimitationoActodoeso noto comeo too theo aido ofo theo partyo wheno theo 3-montho limitationo periodo expiresoonoaodayo whenotheoCourtowaso working.oTheo30-dayocondonableoperiodoexpiringoduringo theocourtoholidaysowillonotosurviveoandoneitheroSectiono4,o noroanyootheroprovisionoofotheoLimitationoAct,owilloinureo CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -16-o o tootheobenefitoofotheopartyotooenableofilingoofotheoSectiono 34oapplicationoimmediatelyoafteroreopening.o

40.4.oFourth,osinceoSectiono4oofotheoLimitationoActo appliesotooproceedingsounderoSectiono34oofotheoACA,otheo applicabilityoofoSectiono10oofotheoGCAostandsoexcludedoino viewoofotheoexpressowordingoofoitsoprovisoothatoexcludeso theoapplicabilityoofotheoprovisionowhenotheoLimitationoActo applies.o Highlightingo certaino concernso witho theo currento legalo positiono o

41.oBeforeopartingowithothisojudgment,oweofindoito necessaryotooexpressocertainodifficultiesowithotheocurrento positionoofolaw.oInoouroview,otheoaboveoconstructionoofo limitationostatutesoisoquiteostringentoandoundulyocurtailsoao remedyo availableo too arbitratingo partieso too challengeo theo validityoofoanoarbitraloaward.oThisomustobeoaddressedobyo Parliament.o

41.1.o Theo purposeo ofo readingo theo Limitationo Acto alongsideotheoACAoisonototoorestrictotheospecialoremedyo underotheoACA,obutotooenableoexerciseoofosuchoremedyoino circumstancesoasocontemplatedounderotheoLimitationoAct.o Ino thiso context,o Sectiono 29(2)o ofo theo Limitationo Acto becomesorelevantoasoitoincorporatesoSectionso4otoo24oofotheo LimitationoActoinospecialostatutes,oincludingotheoACA,otoo theoextentothatoitsoprovisionsoareonotoexpresslyoexcluded.o

41.2.oTheolanguageoofoSectiono34(3)oreadowithoitso provisoodoesonotoexpresslyooroimpliedlyoexcludeoSectiono4o ofo theo Limitationo Acto ando thiso interpretationo iso ino consonanceo witho theo importanto principleo contemplatedo underoSectiono29(2)otooprotectorightsoandoremedies.oThiso CourtohasoalreadyorecognisedotheoapplicabilityoofoSectiono4o ofotheoLimitationoAct.o

41.3.o Theo substantiveo remedieso availableo undero Sectionso34oando37oofotheoACAoare,obyotheiroveryonature,o limitedoinotheiroscopeodueotoostatutoryoprescription.oItoiso thereforeonecessaryotoointerpretotheolimitationoprovisionso CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -17-o o liberally,o oro elseo eveno theo limitedo windowo availableo too partieso too challengeo ano arbitralo awardo willo beo lost.o Theo remedyounderoSectiono34oisoprecious,oandocourtsowillokeepo inomindotheoneedotoosecureoandoprotectosuchoremedyowhileo applyingolimitationoprovisions.o[KirpaloSinghov.oUnionoofo India,o(2024)o19oSCCo401o:o2024oSCCoOnLineoSCo3814,o parao 10]o Ifo thiso limitedo remedyo iso deniedo ono stringento principlesoofolimitation,oitowillocauseogreatoprejudiceoando hasotheoeffectoofo(a)odenyingotheoremedy,oando(b)oinotheo longorun,oitowillohaveotheoeffectoofodissuadingocontractingo partieso fromo seekingo resolutiono ofo disputeso througho arbitration.oThisoisoagainstopublicopolicy.o

41.4.o However,o theo difficultyo ariseso aso theo judgmentsoaffirmingotheoapplicabilityoofoSectiono4oofotheo LimitationoActoequateotheoexpressiono"prescribed"oinothato sectionoandoSectiono29(2)oofotheoLimitationoActoonlyowitho theo maino periodo ofo limitationo (3o months).o Theo problemo withothisoconstructionoisothatotheospecialolawoi.e.oSectiono 34(3)o ofo theo ACA,o alongo witho itso provisoo doeso noto prescribeo theo periodo ofo limitationo ino theo mannero thato ao periodoisospecifiedoinotheoScheduleotootheoLimitationoAct.o TheostatutorilyoprescribedoperiodounderoSectiono34(3)oofo theoACAoiso3omonths,oandoanoadditionalo30odays.oInoouro opinion,o ito willo beo wrongo too confineo theo periodo ofo limitationo too justo 3o monthso byo interpretingo ito aso theo "prescribedo period"o ando excludingo theo balanceo 30o dayso undero theo provisoo too Sectiono 34(3)o aso noto beingo theo prescribedoperiodothroughoaoprocessoofointerpretation.o

41.5.oTheopurposeoofoapplyingotheoLimitationoActo toospecialolawsoisotoovestoinotheocourtotheopowerotooexerciseo discretiono oro too granto theo benefito ofo exclusion.o Ino sucho cases,owhenotheoLimitationoActoapplies,otheodiscretionoofo theo courto aso contemplatedo undero itso provisions,o commencingofromoSectionso4otoo24,omustobeogivenofullo effect.o Ino thiso light,o theo additionalo periodo ofo 30o dayso specificallyoprovidedounderotheoACAolosesoitsoefficacyoando CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -18-o o purpose,o ando becomeso untenableo dueo too theo currento positionoofolaw.oThisotakesousotooaofundamentaloquestionoaso too theo meaningo ofo "expresso exclusion"o ofo certaino provisionsoofotheoLimitationoActobyotheoACA.oInoPopularo Constructiono [Uniono ofo Indiao v.o Popularo Constructiono Co.,o (2001)o 8o SCCo 470]o ,o theo Courto cameo too theo conclusiono thato Sectiono 34(3)o provisoo "impliedly"―aso againsto theo specifico expressiono "expressly"o ino Sectiono 29(2)oofotheoLimitationoAct―excludesoSectiono5oofotheo LimitationoAct.o

41.6.o Onceo theo Courto commencedo disapplyingo provisionso ofo theo Limitationo Acto too theo ACAo ono theo groundo ofo impliedo exclusions,o ito iso onlyo ao mattero ofo interpretationo too includeo oro excludeo provisionso fromo Sectionso4otoo24oofotheoLimitationoActoonoaocase-to-caseo basis.o Thus,o foro example,o whileo theo Courto heldo thato Sectionso5oando17oofotheoLimitationoActoareoexcludedofromo Sectiono34(3),oitocameotootheoconclusionothatoSectionso4,o 12,oando14oofotheoLimitationoActoareoapplicable.oInoaoway,o theoapplicabilityoofoprovisionsofromoSectionso4otoo24oofotheo LimitationoActoandotheomanneroinowhichotheyoapplyoareoato theodoorstepoofotheoCourt,oratherothanobeingodeterminedobyo ao clearo ando categoricalo statutoryo prescription.o Thiso iso perhapso theo reasono whyo Parliamento haso usedo theo expressiono "expresso exclusion"o ino Sectiono 29(2)o ofo theo LimitationoAct.oWeoareoconsciousoofotheofactothatoitoisotooo lateoinotheodayotooholdothato"expressoexclusion"owillonoto includeoimpliedoexclusion.oItoisoforotheolegislatureotootakeo noteoofothisopositionoandobringoaboutoclarityoandocertainty.o Weosayonoomore,oforotheooverbearingointellectualisationoofo theo Acto byo courtso haso becomeo theo baneo ofo Indiano arbitration.o Conclusiono

42.oForotheoreasonsosetoforthoabove,otheoapplicationo preferredobyotheoappellantounderoSectiono34oofotheoACAo standsodismissedoasoitowasofiledobeyondotheocondonableo CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -19-o o periodo ofo 30o days,o whicho conclusivelyo ando absolutelyo expiredoono28-6-2022."o o

15.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo appellantso haso alsoo raisedo ano argumentothatotheoprovisionsoofoSectiono14oofotheoLimitationoActowouldobeo applicableotootheoperiodoofolimitationoprovidedounderoSectiono34o(3)oofotheo ArbitrationoAct,oevenoifotheosameodoesonotoapplyotootheoextendedoperiodoofo 30odaysoprovidedoinotheoprovisootoosub-sectiono3.oo

16.o o Tooexamineotheoaforesaidoargument,oitowouldobeogainfulotoo noticeoaofewodates,owhichoareotabulatedohereunder:-o

1.o Dateoofopassingoofotheoimpugnedoawardobyo 03.08.2019o theoArbitratoroo 2o Dateooforeceiptoofotheoarbitraloawardobyotheo 06.08.2019o appellants/objectoro

3.o DateoofofilingoofopetitionounderoSectiono34oofo 24.10.2019o theoActoatoKarnalo

4.o Theooriginaloperiodoofolimitationoforofilingotheo 02.11.2019o aforesaidopetitionoexpiredoono

5.o DateooforeturnoofotheopetitionobyotheoKarnalo 03.07.2023o Courto 6o Dateoofoactuallyocollectingotheopetitionofromo 01.09.2023o theoKarnaloCourtoo

7.o Dateoofofilingoofotheopetitionobeforeo 11.09.2023o GurugramoCourto

8.o DateoofofilingoapplicationoU/oo7oRuleo11oCPCo 06.11.2023o

9.o Dateooforeplyotootheosaidoapplicationo 29.11.2023o

10.o DateoofomovingoapplicationounderoSectionso 07.12.2023o 14oando5oofotheoLimitationoActo

11.o PetitionounderoSectiono34oofotheoArbitrationo 1344odayso ActoremainedopendingoatoKarnalofromo

24.10.2019otoo30.07.2023o

12.o Totalonumberoofodaysofromotheodateoofo 1494odayso publicationoofotheoarbitraloawardotillodateoofo re-filingotheoobjectionopetitionobeforeotheo GurugramoCourt,oi.e.ofromo03.08.2019otoo

19.09.2023o(4Y-01M-04D)oo o

17.o o Ao perusalo ofo theo aforesaido timelineso wouldo showo thato theo objectiono petitiono waso filedo beforeo theo learnedo Courto ato Karnalo ono CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -20-o o

24.10.2019,o i.e.o wheno 12o dayso wereo stillo remainingo foro theo periodo ofo limitationoprescribedounderoSectiono34oofotheoArbitrationoAct,otooexpire.oIto hasoalreadyobeenoheldothatotheoprovisionsocontainedoinoSectionso4otoo24oofo theoLimitationoActoareonotoapplicableotootheoprovisootooSectiono34o(3)oofo theo Arbitrationo Act.o Thus,o eveno ifo theo benefito ofo Sectiono 14o ofo theo LimitationoActoisoappliedotootheopresentocase,otheosameowouldonotobeoofo anyohelpotootheoappellants,oasotheodelay,odespiteoexcludingotheoentireoperiodo ofoproceedingsobeforeotheoCourtoatoKarnal,owouldostilloremainobeyondotheo maximumoperiodoprescribed,oi.e.obeyondo30odaysoafterotheoexpiryoofothreeo monthsofromotheodateooforeceiptoofotheoarbitraloaward.oForoelucidation,o evenoafteroexcludingotheoperiodobyograntingotheobenefitounderoSectiono14o ofotheoLimitationoAct,otheodelayowouldostilloremainoofo150odaysoasodepictedo inotheounderocalculation:-o o o o 1494o–o1344o=o150odayso

18.o o Inotheocaseoatohand,okeepingoinoviewotheosettledolegalopositiono discussedohereinabove,othereoisonoodenialotootheofactothatotheoobjectiono petitionounderoSectiono34oofotheoArbitrationoActowasopresentedobeforeotheo Courto ato Gurugramo beyondo theo periodo ofo limitationo prescribedo undero Sectiono34o(3),oasowelloasobeyondotheofurtheroperiodoofo30odaysoextendableo inotermsoofotheoprovisootoosub-sectiono3oofoSectiono34oofotheoArbitrationo Act,oandoisothusotimeobarred.o

19.o o Learnedocounseloforotheoappellantsohasofailedotoopointooutoanyo materialoonorecordotoodemonstrateothatoanyostepsowereotimelyotakenotoo collectotheooriginalopetitionofromotheoKarnaloCourt,oafteropassingoofotheo orderodatedo03.07.2023ooroevenoasoperotheocaseosetoupobyothemowhenotheo CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -21-o o saidoorderocameotootheiroknowledgeoono02.08.2023.oTheoobjectionopetitiono isostatedotoohaveobeenocollectedoonlyoono01.09.2023.oEvenootherwise,oino theolightoofotheolaworecentlyolaidodownobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoino SpecialoLeaveotooPetitiono(C)oNo.9580oofo2025odecidedoono15.04.2025o titledo aso Jharkhando Urjao Utpadano Nigamo Ltd.o vs.o Bharato Heavyo ElectricaloLimited,oreportedoino2025oSCCoOnlineoSCo910,owhereinoitowaso heldothatotheopartiesocannotoindefinitelyocauseodelayobyocitingononodeliveryo ofocopyoofojudgmentowithoutoproactiveoeffortsotooprocureotheosame.oTheo positionowithoregardotoocollectingotheooriginalopetition,oonobeingoorderedotoo beo returnedo byo theo Courto undero Ordero 7o Ruleo 10o CPCo wouldo beo noo different.oInotheoaforesaidodecision,oitowasoheldoasounder:-o "14.oThus,o wheno thiso Courto inoHousingo Board,o Haryanao(supra)oheldo thatotheolimitationoforochallengingo theo sameo wouldo begino fromo theo dateo ofo sucho communication,otheosameowouldobeoapplicableoonlyowhereo despiteobestoofoeffortsoatotheoendoofotheopartiesoinoprocuringo theo ordero theo sameo couldo noto beo obtainedo ando therebyo resultingo ino unavoidableo delayo ino theo filingo ofo appeals.o Oneo ofo theo coreo tenetso ofo theo lawo ofo limitationo iso too enthuseodiligenceoamongstopartiesoasotootheirorights.oTheo lawo ofo limitationo cannoto beo reado ino sucho ao mannero wherebyopartiesostoposhowingoanyomodicumooforegardoforo theiro owno rightso ando ono theo pre-texto ofo untimelyo communicationo continueo too litigateo withouto beingo vigilanteothemselves.o

15.oSimilarly,o weo findo thato theo relianceo byo theo appellantsoonotheodecisionoofoSagufaoAhmedo(supra)oisoalsoo misplaced.oInotheosaidocase,othisoCourtowhileoconsideringo Sectiono 421o sub-sectiono (3)o ofo theoCompanieso Act,o 2013oheldothatotheoperiodoofolimitationoprescribedothereino wouldostartorunningoonlyofromotheodateoonowhichoaocopyoofo CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -22-o o theo ordero iso madeo availableo too theo persono aggrieved.o However,oyetoagainoinotheosaidocase,otheoappellantsothereino hadomadeosomeoeffortsotooprocureoaocertifiedocopyoofotheo orderotoobeoassailedoduringotheoperiodoofolimitation.o xxxxxo

18.oThus,omerelyobecauseoOrderoXXoRuleoIoenjoinsoao dutyouponotheocommercialocourtsotooprovideotheocopiesoofo theojudgmentothatodoesonotomeanothatotheopartiesocanoshirko awayo allo responsibilityo ofo endeavoringo too procureo theo certifiedocopiesothereofoinotheiroownocapacity.oAnyosucho interpretationo wouldo resulto ino frustratingo theo veryo fundamentalocannonsoofolawoofolimitationoandotheosalutaryo purposeoofotheoAct,o2015oofoensuringotimelyodisposals."o o

20.o o Eveno beforeo thiso Courto ando duringo theo courseo ofo hearing,o learnedocounseloforotheoappellantsohasofailedotooshowothatotheoappellantso hado madeo anyo proactiveo effortso too timelyo procureo theo originalo petitiono fromo theo Karnalo Court.o Moreover,o ito waso theo boundeno dutyo ofo theo appellantsotoocollectotheosaidopetitionoforobeingopresentedobeforeotheoCourto ofocompetentojurisdiction,oi.e.otheoGurugramoCourt.oHence,otheoappellantso cano availo ofo noo benefito ono theo groundo thato theo originalo petitiono waso actuallyocollectedoono01.09.2023,obyowhichotime,otheopetitionohadobeeno renderedotimeobarred,oevenoifotheoperiodoofoproceedingsobeforeotheoKarnalo CourtoisoexcludedobyograntingotheobenefitoofoSectiono14oofotheoLimitationo Act.oo

21.o o Asoanoargumentoinodespair,olearnedocounseloforotheoappellantso submitsothatoinotheocaseoofore-filing,otheoaforesaidocircumscriptionowouldo notoapply.oSinceotheoinitialofilingowasowithinotheoperiodoofolimitation,oaso specifiedounderoSectiono34o(3)oofotheoArbitrationoAct,otheore-filingobeyondo CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -23-o o theoprescribedoperiodocannotobeotreatedoasooneoinowhichotheoCourtolackso jurisdictionotoocondoneotheodelay.oRelianceoisoplacedouponotheoDivisiono Bencho decisiono ofo theo Hon'bleo Higho Courto ofo Delhio ino FAO(OS)o

(COMM)o81/2020odecidedoono19.12.2023otitledoasoUnionoofoIndiaovs.o M/soPanaceaoBiotecoLimited,o2023:DHC:9474-DB.oAocarefuloreadingoofo theosaidojudgmentowouldoshowothatotheosaidocaseowasoregardingore-filingoofo theoSectiono34oobjectionopetitionoinotheosameoCourt,oafteroremovingotheo discrepanciesopointedooutobyotheoRegistry.oInotheocaseoatohand,otheofactualo positionoisomuchodifferent.oItoisonotoaocaseoofore-filingosimpliciterobeforeo theosameoCourtobutore-presentationoofotheopetitionobeforeotheocompetento Courtohavingojurisdictionoinotheomatter.oInotheocaseoofore-filingoinothiso Court,o theo periodo foro re-filingo iso specificallyo providedo undero theo Higho CourtoRulesoandoOrdersoandoasosuch,ocannotobeoconfusedowithopresentationo ofotheopetitionoonobeingoreturnedounderotheoprovisionoofoOrdero7oRuleo10o CPC,oasoinotheopresentocase.oTheodecisionoinoM/soPanaceaoBiotec'socaseo (supra)ois,oasosuch,odistinguishableoonofactsoandonotoapplicableotootheocaseo atohand.oo

22.oo o Lastobutonototheoleast,orelianceoofotheoappellantsoonoM/soBorseo Brothers'ocaseo(supra)oisoill-founded.oInotheosaidodecision,otheiroLordshipso ofotheoApexoCourtowereoexaminingotheoapplicationoofoSectiono5oofotheo Limitationo Acto too theo Commercialo Courtso Acto regardingo theo periodo ofo limitationoforopreferringoanoappealounderoSectiono13o(1-A)oofotheoActoibid.o Theo provisiono providingo foro limitationo undero Sectiono 34o (3)o ofo theo ArbitrationoActoisodifferentofromotheooneothatowasounderoconsiderationoino CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -24-o o theoaforesaidodecisionoandohasobeenospecificallyonoticedoinoparao34oofotheo saidojudgment.oTheorelevantoportionoofotheojudgmentoreadsoasounder:-o "32.oThus,ofromotheoschemeoofotheoArbitrationoActo asowelloasotheoaforesaidojudgments,ocondonationoofodelayo underoSectiono5oofotheoLimitationoActohasotoobeoseenoinotheo contextoofotheoobjectoofospeedyoresolutionoofodisputes.o

33.oTheobulkoofoappeals,ohowever,otootheoappellateo courto undero Sectiono 37o ofo theo Arbitrationo Act,o areo governedobyoSectiono13oofotheoCommercialoCourtsoAct.o Sub-sectiono(1-A)oofoSectiono13oofotheoCommercialoCourtso Acto provideso theo forumo foro appealso aso wello aso theo limitationo periodo too beo followed,o Sectiono 13o ofo theo CommercialoCourtsoActobeingoaospecialolawoasocomparedo witho theo Limitationo Acto whicho iso ao generalo law,o whicho followsofromoaoreadingoofoSectiono29(2)oofotheoLimitationo Act.oSectiono13(1-A)oofotheoCommercialoCourtsoActolayso downoaoperiodoofolimitationoofo60odaysouniformlyoforoallo appealso thato areo preferredo undero Sectiono 37o ofo theo ArbitrationoAct.oo

34.oTheovexedoquestionowhichofacesousoisowhether,o firsto ando foremost,o theo applicationo ofo Sectiono 5o ofo theo Limitationo Acto iso excludedo byo theo schemeo ofo theo Commercialo Courtso Act,o aso haso beeno arguedo byo Dro George.oTheofirstoimportantothingotoonoteoisothatoSectiono 13(1-A)oofotheoCommercialoCourtsoActodoesonotocontaino anyoprovisionoakinotooSectiono34(3)oofotheoArbitrationoAct.o Sectiono 13(1-A)o ofo theo Commercialo Courtso Acto onlyo providesoforoaolimitationoperiodoofo60odaysofromotheodateo ofotheojudgmentooroorderoappealedoagainst,owithoutofurthero goingointoowhetherodelayobeyondothisoperiodocanoorocannoto beocondoned."o o

23.o o Noootheroissueohasobeenoraised.oo CM-110-FCARB-2025oin/andoo -25-o o

24.o o Inosumma,olearnedocounseloforotheoappellantsohasofailedotoo pointooutoanyoillegalityooroperversityoinotheoimpugnedoorderooroanyobindingo precedentocontraryotootheoonesonoticedoabove.oo

25.o o Accordingly,o theo instanto appealo beingo berefto ofo merit,o iso dismissed.o

26.o o Aso theo maino appealo iso beingo disposedo ofo ono merits,o noo separateoordersoareowarrantedoinotheoapplicationo(CM-110-FCARB-2025)o forovacationoofostay,owhichoisodisposedoofoaccordingly.oo

27.o o Pendingomiscellaneousoapplications,oifoany,oalsoostandoclosed.oo o o o oo(HARSIMRANoSINGHoSETHI)o ooooooooooooooo(VIKASoSURI)o oooooooooooJUDGEo oooooooooooo o oooooooooooJUDGEo o o o

23.09.2025o o o sumit.ko o o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo:o o Yesoo Noo o WhetheroReportableo:o o o Yeso Noo