Calcutta High Court
Sri Goutam Mukherjee And Anr vs Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company … on 19 May, 2026
OD-4
ORDER SHEET
IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA
ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION
ORIGINAL SIDE
AP/66/2026
SRI GOUTAM MUKHERJEE AND ANR
VS
BAJAJ ALLIANZ LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED AND ANR
BEFORE:
The Hon'ble JUSTICE GAURANG KANTH
Date : 19th May, 2026.
Appearance
Mr. Amritam Mandal, Adv.
Ms. Jeenia Rudra, Adv.
...for the petitioners
Mr. Dwaipayan Banerjee, Adv.
Ms. Mahima Mukherjee, Adv.
...for the respondents
The Court: The petitioner has filed 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 submits that this Court vide order
dated 20.07.2017 had appointed Ms. Lapita Banerjee (as Her Ladyship then
was) as the sole Arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes between the parties.
The arbitral tribunal commenced and continued its proceeding till
09.06.2022, whereafter the learned sole Arbitrator, after her elevation as a
Judge of this Court withdrew from the office of the Arbitrator. Subsequently
an application filed by the petitioner under Section 14 and 15 of the
Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, this Court vide order dated
28.02.2024 appointed Ms. Panja Moulik as the learned sole Arbitrator to
adjudicate the disputes between the parties. The pleadings were completed
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on 05.09.2024. However, on 05.08.2025 the learned Arbitrator resigned
from the Office. The petitioner again approached this Court under Section
14 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. This Court vide order dated
18.09.2025 appointed Mr. Ayan Banerjee as the sole Arbitrator.
With the consent of the parties, the mandate of the arbitral tribunal
was extended for a period of six months till 04.03.2026. The matter is at the
stage of recording of evidence.
Learned Counsel for the respondent states that he has no objection to
the extension of the mandate of the arbitral tribunal.
Upon consideration of the submissions of the parties and the
materials placed on record, this Court is satisfied that there has been no
undue and unwarranted delay on the part of the learned sole Arbitrator in
concluding the proceedings.
Having regard to the advanced stage of the proceedings and in the
interest of justice, the mandate of the arbitral tribunal is extended for a
further period of eight 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 observations, the present petition stands disposed
of.
(GAURANG KANTH, J.)
S. Mandi
AR(CR)
