Rkec Projects Limited vs The Cochin Port Trust on 20 March, 2024
In Suryadev Alloys and Power Pvt. Ltd v. Shri.Govindaraja
Textiles Pvt. Ltd., a learned Single Judge of the Madras High
Court analysed the provisions of Section 29A(1), (3), (4) and (5) of
the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 and came to the
conclusion that unlike the provisions of Section 28(1) of the 1940
Act which gave wide powers to the Court to enlarge the time for
making an award even after the expiry of the time, the 1996 Act
has curtailed these powers and restricted the extension only
within the provisions of Section 29A(3) and 29A(4). It was found
that the Court can extend the period for making of the award
after the expiry of one year period under Section 29A(1) or the
extended period under Section 29A(3). However, even the Court
cannot ratify an award ex post facto by extending the period in a
petition filed under Section 34 by an aggrieved party. It was
found that Section 28(1) of the 1940 Act gave express power to
the Court to enlarge the time even after the making of the Award.
However, since a similar provision is not available in Section 29A
of the 1996 Act, the mandate of the Arbitrator would stand
terminated on the expiry of the period provided unless extended
I.A.No.2/2023 in A.R. No.52/2019 &
I.A.No.1/2023 in A.R. No.53/2019
-: 6 :-
by the Court.