I.P.MUKERJI,J. - (1.) This is an arbitration arising out of the National Highway Act, 1956. Under Section 3G(5) thereof, an Arbitrator was appointed by the Central Government. He was the Commissioner of Jalpaiguri Division. His date of appointment is not known but he called a meeting on 16th February, 2016. This meeting was postponed. Another meeting was called on 2nd August, 2016. Nothing concrete happened. It appears that on 1st September, 2016, the learned Arbitrator directed filing of statement of claim which was filed by the petitioner on 28th September, 2016.
(2.) The grievance of the petitioner is that nothing has been done by the learned Arbitrator thereafter.
(3.) According to Mr. Dutta and Mr. Sen, learned Advocates appearing for the NHAI and State respectively, the power and function of the Commissioner, Jalpaiguri are now vested in the Commissioner, Malda Division. It is not known when the Commissioner, Malda Division was appointed as Arbitrator. The letter of the Additional District Magistrate (LA), Malda, a Competent Authority under the said Act of 1956, only says that the files were transferred on 11th January, 2017 to the Commissioner, Malda Division for disposal.;