In Ajay Protech Pvt. Ltd. v. General Manager & Anr., 2024 INSC 889, the Supreme Court clarified that under Section 29A(4) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, courts can extend the mandate of an arbitral tribunal even after its expiry, provided “sufficient cause” exists. The tribunal’s mandate, which lapsed on 09.04.2021, was extended till 31.12.2024 after the Court considered its earlier COVID-19 order excluding the period from 15.03.2020 to 28.02.2022 for limitation purposes. Reversing the Gujarat High Court’s dismissal of the extension application, the Court emphasized that “sufficient cause” under Section 29A(5) must be liberally interpreted to ensure the effective resolution of disputes, aligning with its pro-arbitration stance and duty to facilitate completion of arbitral proceedings.
