Chandradeep Narayan Singh vs National Highways Authority Of India on 16 January, 2024
18. I have also considered the judgments of the
Hon'ble Supreme Court rendered in the case of Commissioner
of Income Tax, Banglore vs. R. Sharadamma (supra), Om
Prakash Agarwal vs. Vishan Dayan Rajpoot and Another
(supra) and Neena Aneja and Another vs. Jai Prakash
Associates Limited (supra). In the present case, the Additional
Collector was seized of the matter, he did not lose seisin thereof
an account of change of arbitrator as per new notification dated
21.06.2018 and as per the principle underlined under Section-6
of the General Clauses Act, 1987. The arbitration proceeding
held by the Additional Collector cannot be held to be illegal by
Patna High Court CWJC No.16226 of 2019 dt.16-01-2024
23/24
virtue of the new notification dated 21.06.2018 conferring the
power of arbitration to the Divisional Commissioner. The
Additional Collector before whom the proceeding was pending
was not deprived of jurisdiction to conclude the arbitration
proceeding which was pending before him on the date of
coming into force of new notification. The Additional Collector
did not lose jurisdiction to continue with the arbitration
proceeding pending before him on 21.06.2018 by virtue of
coming of the new notification. He was entitled to continue with
the pending proceedings and pass appropriate orders in
accordance with law. The Additional Collector who has
concluded the arbitration proceeding did not lack inherent
jurisdiction.