Bombay High Court
Khanijabi Shaikh Siraj and OthersversusThe Project Director National Highway Authority of India and Anr.
- Disposal
- DISPOSED OFF
- Bench
- ARUN R PEDNEKER
Holding
Section 29‑A of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act does not apply to arbitrations appointed under Section 3(G)(5) of the National Highways Act, 1956.
Summary
The Bombay High Court, Aurangabad Bench, heard a batch of arbitration applications filed by various contractors seeking extensions of the arbitrator's mandate under Section 29‑A of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The applications were filed against the Project Director of the National Highway Authority of India in matters arising from contracts governed by the National Highways Act, 1956. The Court examined the scope of Section 29‑A, relying on the Supreme Court’s decision in Jagdeep Chowgule v. Sheela Chowgule and the High Court’s earlier ruling in National Highway Authority of India v. Suresh Matre, which held that Section 29‑A does not apply to arbitrations appointed under Section 3(G)(5) of the National Highways Act. Consequently, the Court concluded that the statutory time‑limit provisions for extending an arbitrator’s mandate are inapplicable to these proceedings. The Court directed the arbitrator to decide the pending matters expeditiously and disposed of all the arbitration applications along with the related interim civil applications.
Issues considered
- The applicability of Section 29‑A of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 to arbitrations appointed under Section 3(G)(5) of the National Highways Act, 1956
- The jurisdiction of the principal civil court to entertain applications for extension of an arbitrator’s mandate
Legislation cited
- Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — s. 29-A
- National Highways Act, 1956 — s. 3(G)(5)
Subjects
- Arbitration
- Section 29-A
- National Highways Act
- Arbitrator mandate extension
- Court jurisdiction
- Disposal of applications
Judgment
1 904-924
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD
904 ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 25 OF 2025
WALMIK GOPINATH AGHADE AND OTHERS
VERSUS
THE PROJECT DIRECTOR,NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF
INDIA
...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Ajit Baburao Gaikwad
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. S. J. Rahate
Advocate for Respondent No.2 : Mr. N. S. Salunke
...
WITH
CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 3602 OF 2026
IN ARB/25/2025
...
AND
...
905 ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 26 OF 2025
VITTHAL RAMRAO THENGDE AND OTHERS
VERSUS
THE PROJECT DIRECTOR,NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF
INDIA
...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Ajit Baburao Gaikwad
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. S. J. Rahate
Advocate for Respondent No.2 : Mr. N. S. Salunke
...
WITH
CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 3612 OF 2026
IN ARB/26/2025
...
AND
...
906 ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 27 OF 2025
VINOD KANHAIYALAL BHARUKA AND OTHERS
2 904-924
VERSUS
THE PROJECT DIRECTOR,NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF
INDIA
...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Ajit Baburao Gaikwad
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. S. J. Rahate
Advocate for Respondent No.2 : Mr. Nitin S. Salunke
...
WITH
CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 3604 OF 2026
IN ARB/27/2025
...
AND
...
907 ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 28 OF 2025
VIJAY SHARAD CHANDRATIKE AND OTHERS
VERSUS
THE PROJECT DIRECTOR,NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF
INDIA
...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Ajit Baburao Gaikwad
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. S. J. Rahate
Advocate for Respondent No.2 : Mr. N. T. Tribhuwan
...
WITH
CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 3614 OF 2026
IN ARB/28/2025
...
AND
...
908 ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 29 OF 2025
ASHOK NAMDEV MISAL AND OTHERS
VERSUS
THE PROJECT DIRECTOR NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF
INDIA
...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Ajit Baburao Gaikwad
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. S. J. Rahate
Advocate for Respondent No.2 : Mr. U. B. Bondar
...
3 904-924
WITH
CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 3610 OF 2026
IN ARB/29/2025
...
AND
...
909 ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 30 OF 2025
RAJU HIRAMAN RATHOD AND OTHERS
VERSUS
THE PROJECT DIRECTOR,NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF
INDIA
...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Ajit Baburao Gaikwad
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. S. J. Rahate
Advocate for Respondent No.2 : Mr. Rajendra D. Sanap
...
WITH
CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 3608 OF 2026
IN ARB/30/2025
...
AND
...
910 ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 31 OF 2025
VIJAY SHARAD CHANDRATIKE AND OTHERS
VERSUS
THE PROJECT DIRECTOR,NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF
INDIA
...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Ajit Baburao Gaikwad
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. S. J. Rahate
...
WITH
CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 3603 OF 2026
IN ARB/31/2025
...
AND
...
4 904-924
911 ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 32 OF 2025
KHANIJABI SHAIKH SIRAJ AND OTHERS
VERSUS
THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF
INDIA
...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Ajit Baburao Gaikwad
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. S. J. Rahate
Advocate for Respondent No.2 : Mr. N. T. Bhagat
...
WITH
CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 3605 OF 2026
IN ARB/32/2025
...
AND
...
912 ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 33 OF 2025
MUNISH RATANLAL SHARMA AND OTHERS
VERSUS
THE PROJECT DIRECTOR,NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF
INDIA AND ANOTHERS
...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Ajit Baburao Gaikwad
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. S. J. Rahate
Advocate for Respondent No.2 : Mr. Rajesh H. Mewara
...
WITH
CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 3599 OF 2026
IN ARB/33/2025
...
AND
...
913 ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 34 OF 2025
SATYANARAYAN DATTARAM PATIL AND OTHERS
VERSUS
THE PROJECT DIRECTOR,NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF
INDIA AND OTHERS
...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Ajit Baburao Gaikwad
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. S. J. Rahate
5 904-924
Advocate for Respondent No.2 : Ms. Mayuti G. Kasturkar
...
WITH
CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 3600 OF 2026
IN ARB/34/2025
...
AND
...
914 ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 35 OF 2025
YADNYAVIR ANANDRAO KAVADE
VERSUS
THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF
INDIA AND ANR.
...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Ajit Baburao Gaikwad
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. S. J. Rahate
Advocate for Respondent No.2 : Mr. Rohit Sarvadnya
...
WITH
CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 3606 OF 2026
IN ARB/35/2025
...
AND
...
915 ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 36 OF 2025
ASHABAI PRALHAD KOLHE AND ANOTHER
VERSUS
THE PROJECT DIRECTOR,NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF
INDIA AND ANR.
...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Ajit Baburao Gaikwad
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. S. J. Rahate
Advocate for Respondent No.2 : Mr. Nandkishor U. Yadav
...
WITH
CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 3601 OF 2026
IN ARB/36/2025
...
AND
6 904-924
...
916 ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 37 OF 2025
SATISH BUDHAJIRAO SHINDE AND ANR.
VERSUS
THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF
INDIA AND ANR.
...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Ajit Baburao Gaikwad
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. S. J. Rahate
Advocate for Respondent No.2 : Mr. Rajesh H. Mewara
...
AND
...
917 ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 38 OF 2025
SUBHASH RAMCHANDRA AGRAWAL AND OTHERS
VERSUS
THE PROJECT DIRECTOR,NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF
INDIA AND ANR.
...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Ajit Baburao Gaikwad
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. S. J. Rahate
Advocate for Respondent No.2 : Ms. Mayuri G. Kasturkar
...
AND
...
918 ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 39 OF 2025
SACHIN SUMATILAL JAVHERI AND OTHERS
VERSUS
THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF
INDIA AND ANR.
...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Ajit Baburao Gaikwad
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. S. J. Rahate
Advocate for Respondent No.2 : Mr. Akshay D. Kulkarni
...
AND
...
7 904-924
919 ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 40 OF 2025
DILIP AMBADAS VETAL AND OTHERS
VERSUS
THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF
INDIA AND ANR.
...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Ajit Baburao Gaikwad
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. S. J. Rahate
Advocate for Respondent No.2 : Mr. U. B. Bondar
...
AND
...
920 ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 41 OF 2025
SUSHILABAI RAGHUNATH JANJAL AND OTHERS
VERSUS
THE PROJECT DIRECTOR,NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF
INDIA AND ANOTHER
...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Ajit Baburao Gaikwad
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. S. J. Rahate
Advocate for Respondent No.2 : Mr. Rohit S. Sarvadnya
...
AND
...
921 ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 42 OF 2025
SHILA SUBHASH AGRAWAL AND OTHERS
VERSUS
THE PROJECT DIRECTOR,NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF
INDIA AND OTHERS
...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Ajit Baburao Gaikwad
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. S. J. Rahate
Advocate for Respondent No.2 : Mr. U. B. Bondar
...
AND
...
8 904-924
922 ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 44 OF 2025
VISHWANATH MURGAPPA SINGARE AND OTHERS
VERSUS
THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF
INDIA AND ANOTHER
...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Ajit Baburao Gaikwad
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. S. J. Rahate
Advocate for Respondent No.2 : Mr. Krushna S. Solanke
...
AND
...
923 ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 45 OF 2025
KALPANA SHANKAR UBALE AND OTHERS
VERSUS
THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF
INDIA AND ANOTHER
...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Ajit Baburao Gaikwad
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. S. J. Rahate
Advocate for Respondent No.2 : Mr. Krushna S. Solanke
...
AND
...
924 ARBITRATION APPLICATION NO. 47 OF 2025
SHAMIYODDIN WALIYYODDIN HASHMI
VERSUS
THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF
INDIA AND ANR.
...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Ajit Baburao Gaikwad
Advocate for Respondent No.1 : Mr. S. J. Rahate
Advocate for Respondent No.2 : Mr. Avinash R. Borulkar
...
CORAM : ARUN R. PEDNEKER, J.
DATE : 27.03.2026
9 904-924
PER COURT:
1. Heard.
2. The Arbitration Applications are filed for extension of
the mandate under Section 29-A of the Arbitration and Conciliation
Act.
3. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Jagdeep
Chowgule Vs. Sheela Chowgule and others, dated 29.01.2026,
relying upon the Judgment of Chief Engineer (NH) PWD (Roads)
Vs. BSC&C and C JV, 2024 SCC OnLine SC 1801, has observed that
the power under Sub-Section 29A of the Arbitration Act vests in
the Court as defined in Section 2(1)(e) of the Arbitration Act. It is
the principal Civil Court of original jurisdiction in a district which
includes a High Court provided the High Court has ordinary
original civil jurisdiction.
4. This Court in case of National Highway Authority of
India and others Vs. Suresh Pardharinath Matre and others,
MANU/MH/2637/2026 : Arbitration Appeal No.10 of 2026 with
connected matters, dated 18.03.2026 has taken a view that Section
29-A of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 has no
application to the arbitration proceedings initiated under Section
3(G)(5) of the National Highways Act, 1956. This court in the case
10 904-924
of Suresh Matre (supra) has observed at Paragraph No.49, as
under:
"49. This Court for the reasons discussed above, holds
that Section 29A of the Act, which provides for a time
limit for the conclusion of arbitration proceedings
extension of mandate of Arbitrator, reduction of fees of
arbitrator and for substitution of the arbitrator, would
not apply to an arbitrator appointed under Section
3G(5) of the National Highways Act."
5. In view of the above, all the Applications are disposed of
with direction to the Arbitrator to decide the pending Arbitration
Applications expeditiously.
6. In view of disposal of the Arbitration Applications, the
interim Civil Applications are also disposed of.
[ARUN R. PEDNEKER, J.]
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