In a major setback to Kalanithi Maran and KAL Airways, the Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed their appeal challenging a Delhi High Court judgment in the long-standing arbitral dispute with SpiceJet and its promoter Ajay Singh.
A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and AS Chandurkar held that Maran and KAL Airways engaged in a “calculated gamble” by deliberately delaying the filing and re-filing of their appeals against a 2023 arbitral award. The Court found no bona fide intent, calling the delay “carefully orchestrated” and part of a strategic litigation ploy.
The case stems from an arbitration tribunal’s 2018 decision directing SpiceJet to refund ₹270 crore to Maran and KAL Airways while rejecting their remaining claims. While both parties had filed challenges, only SpiceJet pursued its appeals within the limitation period, which were heard and remanded for fresh consideration by the Delhi High Court in May 2024.
Maran’s defective appeals were initially filed late and then left dormant for 226 days before being refiled — just four days after their Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) were rejected by the Supreme Court on July 26, 2024. The Delhi High Court had already refused to condone the delays in May 2025.
The Supreme Court strongly rejected the plea to excuse the delays, stressing that limitation laws demand fairness and diligence, not tactical maneuvering. The ruling ends Maran and KAL Airways’ challenge without even examining the merits of the case.
Legal Representation:
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Kalanithi Maran was represented by Senior Advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu and a team from Karanjawala & Co.
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KAL Airways was represented by Senior Advocate Senthil Jagadeesan with lawyers from Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas.
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SpiceJet and Ajay Singh were defended by Senior Advocate Amit Sibal with his legal team.
This judgment is seen as a significant reaffirmation of procedural discipline and could set a precedent in handling strategic delays in high-stakes commercial litigation.
