Director General Of Prisons & ANR v. M/S P A Sales Corporation

$~9&10 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + EFA (OS) 12/2014 DIRECTOR GENERAL OF PRISONS & ANR ..... Appellants versus M/S JAGDAMBA SALES CORPORATION ..... Respondent EFA (OS) 13/2014 DIRECTOR GENERAL OF PRISONS & ANR ..... Appellants versus M/S P A SALES CORPORATION ..... Respondent Present: Mr. Naushad Ahmed Khan, Addl. Standing Counsel, GNCTD (Civil), Advocate for appellants.

Mr. K.G. Sharma, Advocate for respondent in EFA(OS) 13/2014.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S. RAVINDRA BHAT HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE DEEPA SHARMA

O R D E R

% 15.01.2016 The limited grievance in these appeals is with respect to the post awarded interest. The Arbitral Tribunal had directed payment of amounts forfeited by the appellant. The Tribunal, however, did not award any pre award interest. In these circumstances, at the stage of execution, learned Single Judge directed the payment in conformity with Section 31 (7) (b) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 to pay post award interest at the statutory rate. The appellant claims to be aggrieved by this direction.

This Court is of the opinion that there is no merit in the appeals.

Firstly, the Statute, i.e., Section 31 (7) (b) is categorical that default interest, i.e., wherever the Arbitral Award is silent about post award interest, 18% must necessarily be paid. Secondly, the learned Single Judge followed the decision in the State of Haryana v. S.L. Arora & Co., AIR 2010 SC 1511, which had clarified the law on this aspect. For the above reasons, the appeals are dismissed. S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J DEEPA SHARMA, J JANUARY 15, 2016 /vikas/