IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
I.A. Nos. 4 & 5
IN
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 6158 OF 2013
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA.
V
M/S NCC- KNR (JV).
Dated:January 19, 2016.
Citation:(2016) 13 SCC329
1. These Interlocutory Applications arise out of Civil Appeal No.6158 of 2013 which was disposed of by this Court on 24.4.2015. While allowing said appeal preferred by National Highways Authority of India, the appellant herein, it was directed by this Court as under:-
“ In our view, the Arbitral Tribunal went beyond the
scope of the contract and it clearly exceeded its
jurisdiction. We, therefore, set aside the award insofar
as it allows Claim No. 8. Consequently, the appeal
stands allowed. At the interim stage, this Court had
directed the Appellant to deposit a sum of
Rs.70,65,039/- which upon deposit was withdrawn by
the Respondent on furnishing a bank guarantee. The
appellant is entitled to encash that bank guarantee to
recover the sum that was deposited. No order as to
costs.”
2. Soon thereafter Interlocutory Application No.3 of 2015 was filed on behalf of the respondent, which was disposed of by this Court by its order dated 8.5.2015, which order was to the following effect:-
“Mr. Amit George, leaned counsel appearing for the
applicant-respondent shall pay to the petitioner,
National Highways Authority of India and, therefore,
the bank guarantee in question need not be encashed.
He undertakes that the respondent shall make the
payment to the applicant within four weeks from today.
The said amount shall be paid by way of a bank draft
drawn on a nationalized bank. If the amount is not paid
within the stipulated period, the bank guarantee shall
be encashed forthwith by the petitioner.
I.A. No. 3 of 2015 stands disposed of accordingly.”
3. Accordingly, the respondent made over the amount in question within the time stipulated under the order dated 08.05.2015. Interlocutory Application No.4 of 2015 was thereafter preferred by the appellant contending that the decretal amount was withdrawn by the respondent in December 2012 whereas the appeal was allowed in favour of the appellant on 24.4.2015 and that the respondent had reaped the benefits of decretal amount for more than three years. It was submitted that the Arbitral Tribunal had awarded interest @ 12% per annum against the appellant and that the respondent be directed to pay interest @ 12% per annum on the amount of Rs.70,65,039/- from the date of withdrawal till the date of actual payment.
4. The appellant is right in its submission that the Arbitral Tribunal in its award dated 09.01.2012 had awarded interest at the rate of 12% per annum on amounts awarded under various claims. Matter in issue in Civil Appeal No.6158 of 2013 pertained only to Claim No.8. In the fitness of things, the appellant is certainly entitled to interest at the same rate on the amount which was enjoyed by the respondent. The entitlement of the respondent to this amount stood negated by judgment and order dated 24.04.2015 and as such the respondent must pay back the amount with interest at the same rate.
5. We therefore, direct that the respondent shall pay interest at the rate of 12% per annum on the amount in question namely Rs.70,65,039/- from the date of withdrawal till the amount was made over by the respondent to the appellant. Such payment shall be made within six weeks from today. Interlocutory Application Nos.4 and 5 stand disposed of accordingly.
(Dipak Misra)
(Uday Umesh Lalit)
New Delhi
January 19, 2016
