SOPAN PROJECTS vs GREAT EASTERN ENERGY CORPORATION LIMITED

Judgment text excerpt

$~31 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Date of Decision: 10.02.2026 + O.M.P. (T) (COMM.) 116/2025 SOPAN PROJECTS .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Seshagiri Vadlamani, Mr. Siddharth Sachar and Ms. Ananya Kukreti, Advocates. versus GREAT EASTERN ENERGY CORPORATION LIMITED .....Respondent Through: Mr. Aseem Chaturvedi, Mr. Shivank Diddi and Mr. Anuj Shrothriya, Advocates. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARISH VAIDYANATHAN SHANKAR % JUDGEMENT (ORAL) 1. The present Petition has been instituted under Section 15(2) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 19961, seeking substitution of the learned Arbitrator. The relief is necessitated on account of the termination of the Arbitrator‟s mandate pursuant to the Order dated 24.04.2025 passed by Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in O.M.P.(T)(COMM.) 102/2023 „Great Eastern Energy Corporation Limited vs. Sopan Projects‟. 2. At the outset, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the Respondent has raised a preliminary objection to the maintainability of the present Petition. 1 Act Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed O.M.P. (T) (COMM.) 116/2025 Page 1 of 7 By:HARVINDER KAUR BHATIA Signing Date:17.02.2026 11:44:55 3. It is contended that since the mandate of the learned Arbitrator stood terminated by the Co-ordinate Bench, such termination would amount to termination of the arbitral proceedings under Section 32 of the Act. On that premise, it is urged that a Petition under Section 15 of the Act would not be maintainable. 4. Elaborating further, learned counsel for the Respondent submits that the parties would be required to recommence the entire arbitral process afresh, beginning with the issuance of a Notice invoking arbitration under Section 21 of the Act, followed by the filing of a petition under Section 11 of the Act, if required,