Arb. Case No. 11 of 2010 16.11.2018 Present: Mr. Naresh K. Gupta, Advocate/applicant. Mr. Tara Singh Chauhan, Advocate, for the non- applicant/respondent. OMP No. 458 of 2018 By way of instant application filed under S.29A of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996, prayer has been made on behalf of Mr. Naresh Kumar Gupta, sole arbitrator, appointed by this court, vide order dated 4.7.2011 in Arbitration Case No. 11 of 2010, for ex post facto extension of time. Learned counsel representing the respondent/non-applicant states that he does not intend to file reply to the application. His statement is taken on record. Averments contained in the application, which is duly supported by an affidavit suggest that vide order dated 4.7.2011, applicant named herein above was appointed as an arbitrator by this court to adjudicate the dispute inter se parties. Vide order dated 30.11.2016, time was extended by this court to make award. As per applicant, he concluded the proceedings on 1.10.2017 and dictated the award, but on account of adverse family circumstances, copies of award could only be sent to the parties on 6.1.2018, as such, in this process, some delay has occurred in making the award in terms of order passed by this court in Arb. Case No. 11 of 2010. Since, as per S.29A of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, award is required to be made within a period of twelve months from the date of arbitrator entering into reference, applicant-sole arbitrator has filed this application, praying therein to extend the time, ex post facto, because otherwise, he has already made award and supplied copies thereof to the parties. Careful perusal of S.29A of the Act ibid though speaks about passing of Award within a period of twelve months but Section 29A(2) further provides for extension of time by another six months with the consent of the parties. Leaving everything aside, this court finds from the record that applicant/sole arbitrator, in the case at hand was appointed on 4.7.2011, whereas S.29A came to be incorporated by way of amendment with effect from 23.10.2015, as such, same may not have any bearing upon the case at hand. Consequently, in view of above, this court sees no impediment in accepting the prayer having been made by the applicant/sole arbitrator. Accordingly, application is allowed and ex post facto extension is granted to the sole arbitrator to make award beyond the time granted by this court, vide order dated 30.11.2016. Application stands disposed of accordingly. (Sandeep Sharma) Judge November 16, 2018 (Vikrant)