1100 Crore Arbitral Award? Delhi High Court Adjourns Enforcement Proceedings On Central Govt's Request Subject To Rs 50K Cost

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday imposed Rs. 50,000 cost on Central government for seeking repeated adjournments in a petition for enforcement of an arbitral award, allegedly having a monetary value of over Rs.1100 crores.

The bench of Justice Prateek Jalan noted that the Union had sought another adjournment despite the objections of party seeking enforcement and the assurance given by the Union on last hearing that no further adjournments shall be sought.

For context, on February 7 Union had sought an adjournment on the ground that the Solicitor General was not available. It had also then assured that Court that no other adjournment would be sought in the matter.

The case was then listed on April 23 and the Union again sought another adjournment on the ground that Additional Solicitor General Vikarmjit Banrjee appearing in the matter was briefed very recently.

"Having regard to the specific assurance that was made to the Court on 07.02.2024, I am of the view that the Union ought to have ensured that it was in a position to proceed with the matter. An adjournment is therefore granted subject to costs of Rs.50,000/- payable by the Union to the respondent within four weeks from today," the Court ordered.

It also directed the government to file its written submissions in the matter and posted it for hearing on August 12.

Case Title: Hardy Exploration & Production (India) Inc v. Government of India

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Del) 497

Counsel for the Petitioner: Mr. Tejas Karia, Ms. Avlokita Rajvi, Mr. Samarth Madan, Ms. Punya Mehrotra, Advocates

Counsel for the Respondents: Mr. Vikramjit Banerjee, ASG with Mr. K.R. Sasiprabhu, Mr. Tushar Bhardwaj, Mr. Manan Shishodia, Mr. Md. Ilyas, Advocates for MoP&NG. Mr. R.Mishra, Mr. M.K. Tiwari, Advocates for UoI in item No. 20. Mr. Ruchir Mishra, Mr. Mukesh Kr. Tiwari, Ms. Reba Jena Mishra, Advocates for UoI in item No. 20. Mr. Anurag Ahluwalia, CGSC for UOI in Item Nos. 19 & 20.

Click Here To Read/Download Order