{"id":201621,"date":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2010-09-02T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010"},"modified":"2017-03-05T06:25:37","modified_gmt":"2017-03-05T00:55:37","slug":"the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010","title":{"rendered":"The New India Assurance Company &#8230; vs M\/S. Alan Scott Industries &#8230; on 3 September, 2010"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"docsource_main\">Bombay High Court<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_title\">The New India Assurance Company &#8230; vs M\/S. Alan Scott Industries &#8230; on 3 September, 2010<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_bench\">Bench: S.J. Vazifdar<\/div>\n<pre>                                 1                                  ARBP101.07.sxw\n\n        IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY\n           ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION\n\n\n\n\n                                                                          \n               ARBITRATION PETITION NO. 101 OF 2007\n\n\n\n\n                                                  \n    The New India Assurance Company Limited,           ]\n    having its Registered and Head Office at New       ]\n    India Assurance Building, 87, M.G. Road, Fort,     ]\n\n\n\n\n                                                 \n    Mumbai 400056 and its Divisional Office D.O.       ]\n    140300, 2nd Floor, Star Trade Centre, Sodawalla    ]\n    Lane, Borivali (West), Mumbai - 400092.            ]... Petitioner\n\n          Vs\n\n\n\n\n                                      \n    M\/s. Alan Scott Industries Limited,\n                         ig                            ]\n    38\/39, Apurva Industrial Estate, Makwana Road,     ]\n    Off Andheri Kurla Road, Marol Naka,                ]\n                       \n    Andheri (East), Mumbai - 400059.                   ]... Respondent\n\n\n                               ALONGWITH\n      \n\n\n               ARBITRATION PETITION NO. 1016 OF 2009\n   \n\n\n\n    The New India Assurance Company Limited, a ]\n    company incorporated under the Companies Act, ]\n    and having its Registered and Head Office at New ]\n\n\n\n\n\n    India Assurance Building, 87,Sir M.G. Road, Fort,]\n    Bombay Regional Office-II, Jeevan Seva .         ]\n                nd\n    Buildings, 2 Floor, S.V.Road, Vile Parle (West), ]\n    Mumbai - 400056.                                 ]... Petitioner\n\n\n\n\n\n          Vs\n\n    M\/s. Alan Scott Industries Limited,                ]\n    38\/39, Apurva Industrial Estate, Makwana Road,     ]\n    Off Andheri Kurla Road, Marol Naka,                ]\n    Andheri (East), Mumbai - 400059.                   ]... Respondent\n\n\n\n\n                                                  ::: Downloaded on - 09\/06\/2013 16:23:55 :::\n                                    2                                   ARBP101.07.sxw\n\n\n    Mr. Vishal Sheth i\/b Crawford Bayley &amp; Co. for the Petitioner.\n\n\n\n\n                                                                             \n    Mr. Shailesh Shah with Ms. Nina Kapadia i\/b Pandya Gandhy &amp; Co.\n    for the Respondent.\n\n\n\n\n                                                     \n                              CORAM : S.J. VAZIFDAR, J.\n<\/pre>\n<p>                              DATED : 3RD SEPTEMBER , 2010.\n<\/p>\n<p>    COMMON ORAL JUDGMENT :\n<\/p>\n<p>    1.    Arbitration Petition No.101 of 2007 challenges an award made<\/p>\n<p>    by the arbitral tribunal consisting of three arbitrators dated 13th June,<\/p>\n<p>    2006. By an order and judgment dated 5th June, 2008, the learned<\/p>\n<p>    single Judge found that the arbitral tribunal had not dealt with three<\/p>\n<p>    contentions viz. the non arbitrability of the dispute; that the<\/p>\n<p>    Respondent had accepted a sum of Rs.1,10,46,134\/- in full and final<\/p>\n<p>    settlement of the award and whether the Respondent is entitled to<\/p>\n<p>    claim any interest in the absence of a contract and if so, at what rate.\n<\/p>\n<p>    The learned Judge, accordingly, deferred the hearing of the other<\/p>\n<p>    grounds of challenge till the decision of the arbitral tribunal on these<\/p>\n<p>    questions. In other words, instead of setting aside the award, the<\/p>\n<p>    learned Judge considered it appropriate to remit the award to the<\/p>\n<p>    arbitral tribunal for a decision on these three issues.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                     ::: Downloaded on &#8211; 09\/06\/2013 16:23:55 :::<\/span><\/p>\n<p>                                  3                                   ARBP101.07.sxw<\/p>\n<p>                The arbitral tribunal, therefore, made and published what<\/p>\n<p>    is termed as an auxillary award dated 5th May, 2009. The Petitioner<\/p>\n<p>    has challenged the auxillary award by filing the above Arbitration<\/p>\n<p>    Petition No.1016 of 2009.\n<\/p>\n<p>    2.    Both the Arbitration Petitions are, therefore, disposed of by this<\/p>\n<p>    common judgment.\n<\/p>\n<p>    3.<\/p>\n<p>          The Petitioner had issued two fire and special perils insurance<\/p>\n<p>    policies in favour of the Respondent for their socks manufacturing<\/p>\n<p>    plant. Under the first policy, the Respondent insured the raw<\/p>\n<p>    materials, stock in process, finished, semi-finished goods and packing<\/p>\n<p>    material. Under the other policy, the Respondent insured the premises,<\/p>\n<p>    machinery etc. Under the policies, compensation was payable either<\/p>\n<p>    on a depreciated value basis or, if the insured was able to reinstate\/<\/p>\n<p>    replace the plant and machinery, on a reinstatement value basis<\/p>\n<p>    provided the reinstatement\/replacement was carried out within twelve<\/p>\n<p>    months from the date of the loss or within such extended period as<\/p>\n<p>    may have been allowed by the Petitioner in writing.                 On 16th<\/p>\n<p>    November, 2002, a fire occurred in the Respondent&#8217;s plant.                The<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                   ::: Downloaded on &#8211; 09\/06\/2013 16:23:55 :::<\/span><br \/>\n                                  4                                  ARBP101.07.sxw<\/p>\n<p>    Respondent informed the Petitioner about the same. The Petitioner<\/p>\n<p>    appointed M\/s. Dilbhag Singh &amp; Co. to carry out a preliminary<\/p>\n<p>    survey. A preliminary report dated 27th November, 2002 was issued<\/p>\n<p>    by the surveyor.\n<\/p>\n<p>    4.    Thereafter, on 18th November, 2002, the Petitioner appointed<\/p>\n<p>    M\/s. B.P. Shah &amp; Associates (hereinafter referred to as &#8220;the<\/p>\n<p>    surveyors&#8221;) as the final surveyors to survey and assess the loss caused<\/p>\n<p>    by the fire. The surveyors issued a preliminary report on 2nd<\/p>\n<p>    December, 2002 and an interim report on 14th January, 2003. The<\/p>\n<p>    interim report recommended payment of Rs.80,00,000\/-. The<\/p>\n<p>    surveyors issued a final survey report on 8th March, 2004. The loss,<\/p>\n<p>    on a reinstatement value basis, was assessed at Rs.2,17,92,373.13 and<\/p>\n<p>    on a depreciated value basis at Rs.1,99,01,637.04. The assessment<\/p>\n<p>    was based on the Euro exchange rate of Rs.52\/-.\n<\/p>\n<p>    5.    The Petitioner carried out other investigations which do not<\/p>\n<p>    require any detailed mention. Suffice it to state that one of the<\/p>\n<p>    investigating agencies M\/s. V.B. Associates reported that the cause of<\/p>\n<p>    the fire was not malicious and that it was accidental. There is no<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                  ::: Downloaded on &#8211; 09\/06\/2013 16:23:55 :::<\/span><br \/>\n                                   5                                  ARBP101.07.sxw<\/p>\n<p>    dispute in this regard.\n<\/p>\n<p>    6.    Correspondence ensued between the parties wherein the<\/p>\n<p>    Respondent requested interim payment to assist it in re-instituting the<\/p>\n<p>    plant and machinery and also an extension of twelve months to carry<\/p>\n<p>    out the reinstatement\/replacement.\n<\/p>\n<p>                 The Petitioner made an on-account payment of Rs.\n<\/p>\n<p>    80,00,000\/- on 30th October, 2003.\n<\/p>\n<p>                 The Respondent requested a further extension and on-\n<\/p>\n<p>    account payment which was apparently not agreed to.\n<\/p>\n<p>    7.    Ultimately, the Respondent, by a letter dated 1st January, 2005,<\/p>\n<p>    referred to the discussions between the parties and gave its consent for<\/p>\n<p>    settling the loss at the depreciated value basis which amounted to<\/p>\n<p>    Rs.1,99,01,637\/-, subject to adjustment of the payment already<\/p>\n<p>    received of Rs.80,00,000\/-. By a letter dated 11th April, 2005, the<\/p>\n<p>    Respondent reserved its right for settlement on reinstatement value<\/p>\n<p>    basis. Details about the utilisation of the on-account payment of Rs.\n<\/p>\n<p>    80,00,000\/- were also furnished.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                   ::: Downloaded on &#8211; 09\/06\/2013 16:23:55 :::<\/span><\/p>\n<p>                                  6                                  ARBP101.07.sxw<\/p>\n<p>    8.     Thereafter, almost fifteen months later, the surveyor issued an<\/p>\n<p>    amended report on 24th May, 2005.          The amount due on the<\/p>\n<p>    depreciated value basis was reduced to Rs.1,90,55,577.97.                This<\/p>\n<p>    reduction was on account of altering the Euro exchange rate from<\/p>\n<p>    Rs.52\/- to Rs.48.625\/-. Under cover of a letter dated 8th June, 2005,<\/p>\n<p>    the Petitioner enclosed a cheque in the sum of Rs.1,10,46,134\/-. In<\/p>\n<p>    other words, the aggregate amount paid was short by Rs.8,55,503\/- on<\/p>\n<p>    the basis of the depreciated value calculated in the final report dated<\/p>\n<p>    8th March, 2004. Correspondence ensued in this regard between the<\/p>\n<p>    parties. The Petitioner having failed to pay the difference of<\/p>\n<p>    Rs.8,55,503\/-, disputes arose between the parties which were referred<\/p>\n<p>    to the arbitral tribunal.\n<\/p>\n<p>    9.     The award, including the auxillary award, was challenged<\/p>\n<p>    before me on two grounds.        Before dealing with the same, it is<\/p>\n<p>    necessary to mention that the auxillary award deals with the first two<\/p>\n<p>    questions mentioned in the order dated 5th June, 2008, viz. the non-\n<\/p>\n<p>    arbitrability of the dispute and that the Respondent had accepted a<\/p>\n<p>    sum of Rs.1,10,46,134\/- in full and final settlement of the award. The<\/p>\n<p>    award in this regard was not questioned at the hearing. In any event, a<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                  ::: Downloaded on &#8211; 09\/06\/2013 16:23:55 :::<\/span><br \/>\n                                   7                                   ARBP101.07.sxw<\/p>\n<p>    challenge in this regard would be unsustainable.\n<\/p>\n<p>    10.   I have examined the award even on these two questions which<\/p>\n<p>    were not raised before me. The arbitral tribunal has dealt with these<\/p>\n<p>    questions in detail and if I may say, with respect, in a well reasoned<\/p>\n<p>    auxillary award.\n<\/p>\n<p>                 For instance, they have not merely stated that though the<\/p>\n<p>    receipts executed by the Respondents mentioned that the payments<\/p>\n<p>    thereunder were in full and final satisfaction, it was not so. The<\/p>\n<p>    arbitral tribunal has considered the legal position, including the<\/p>\n<p>    various authorities in this regard. The arbitral tribunal has analysed<\/p>\n<p>    all the facts which transpired from the time the fire broke out till the<\/p>\n<p>    receipt of the payment while coming to the conclusion. It is on an<\/p>\n<p>    analysis of these facts that the arbitral tribunal came to the conclusion<\/p>\n<p>    that the receipts had not been executed in full and final settlement of<\/p>\n<p>    the award and that the receipts were issued under coercion and in<\/p>\n<p>    circumstances where the Respondent had no option but to issue such<\/p>\n<p>    receipts. The arbitral tribunal found as a matter of fact that had the<\/p>\n<p>    receipts not been issued, the payments, which were already<\/p>\n<p>    inordinately delayed, would never have been made which would have<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                    ::: Downloaded on &#8211; 09\/06\/2013 16:23:55 :::<\/span><br \/>\n                                    8                                    ARBP101.07.sxw<\/p>\n<p>    affected the Respondent drastically. The Petitioner knew about the<\/p>\n<p>    same.\n<\/p>\n<p>    11.     The analysis of the evidence in this regard can, by no stretch of<\/p>\n<p>    imagination, be deemed perverse or unsustainable.              It is a highly<\/p>\n<p>    probable result of an appreciation of all the facts on record. Thus,<\/p>\n<p>    even if I were to come to a different conclusion on an appreciation of<\/p>\n<p>    the evidence, it would not justify my setting aside the award.\n<\/p>\n<p>    12.     Thus the first two questions stipulated in the order dated 5th<\/p>\n<p>    June, 2008, were rightly answered in the Respondent&#8217;s favour.\n<\/p>\n<p>            This brings me to the first ground of challenge to the award.\n<\/p>\n<p>    13.     Mr. Sheth, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the<\/p>\n<p>    Petitioner stated that the award is perverse, in that it failed to take into<\/p>\n<p>    consideration the correct exchange rate for the Euro viz. Rs.48.625<\/p>\n<p>    and wrongly considered the same at Rs.52\/- per Euro.                     It was<\/p>\n<p>    contended that there was no evidence on the basis of which the<\/p>\n<p>    arbitral tribunal could have fixed the exchange rate at Rs.52\/- per<\/p>\n<p>    Euro.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                      ::: Downloaded on &#8211; 09\/06\/2013 16:23:55 :::<\/span><\/p>\n<p>                                  9                                  ARBP101.07.sxw<\/p>\n<p>    14.   The submission is not well founded. Even assuming that no<\/p>\n<p>    evidence of exchange rate in terms of quotations were furnished<\/p>\n<p>    before the arbitral tribunal, it would make no difference in the facts<\/p>\n<p>    and circumstances of the present case. The arbitral tribunal placed<\/p>\n<p>    considerable reliance upon the fact that the surveyor, who was<\/p>\n<p>    appointed by the Petitioner, had himself while making the final report<\/p>\n<p>    on 8th March, 2004, taken the Euro exchange rate at Rs.52\/-. The<\/p>\n<p>    arbitral tribunal expressed surprise as to how this surveyor, who was<\/p>\n<p>    senior and experienced had, after a period of about fifteen months,<\/p>\n<p>    altered this conversion rate to Rs.48,625\/-. As noted by the arbitral<\/p>\n<p>    tribunal under the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority<\/p>\n<p>    (Protection of Policyholders&#8217; Interests) Regulations, 2002 (hereinafter<\/p>\n<p>    referred to as &#8220;IRDA&#8221;) clarifications to the report could have been<\/p>\n<p>    called for within fifteen days.      The same was not done and<\/p>\n<p>    convincing reasons were not placed by the Respondent for the delay<\/p>\n<p>    in finalising the payment. The arbitral tribunal found the Petitioner<\/p>\n<p>    having violated the provisions of Regulation 9 of the IRDA on several<\/p>\n<p>    counts. In these circumstances, the arbitral tribunal cannot be faulted<\/p>\n<p>    for having proceeded on the basis that the rate fixed by the surveyor<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                  ::: Downloaded on &#8211; 09\/06\/2013 16:23:55 :::<\/span><br \/>\n                                   10                                  ARBP101.07.sxw<\/p>\n<p>    appointed by the Petitioner initially was the correct rate. This is<\/p>\n<p>    especially so in the absence of any valid, convincing reasons having<\/p>\n<p>    been furnished by the Petitioner\/Petitioner&#8217;s surveyor for changing the<\/p>\n<p>    exchange rate.      I cannot fault the arbitral tribunal for not having<\/p>\n<p>    accepted the Petitioner\/ Petitioner&#8217;s surveyor&#8217;s contention regarding<\/p>\n<p>    there being a mistake without their having adduced some evidence to<\/p>\n<p>    establish the same.\n<\/p>\n<p>    15.<\/p>\n<p>          It is interesting to note the surveyor&#8217;s evidence. He stated that<\/p>\n<p>    on 11th April, 2005, the insurer i.e. the Petitioner wanted the<\/p>\n<p>    calculation with the exchange rate of Rs.48.625 which was available<\/p>\n<p>    from the website and that he, accordingly, gave the said calculation.\n<\/p>\n<p>    In the cross-examination, there is no evidence which establishes that<\/p>\n<p>    the exchange rate of Rs.52\/- for the Euro was incorrect. The<\/p>\n<p>    quotations on the website do not necessarily indicate the final<\/p>\n<p>    exchange rate in all cases and the availability of exchange at that rate<\/p>\n<p>    from all dealers.\n<\/p>\n<p>    16.   The challenge to the award in this regard is, therefore, rejected.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                   ::: Downloaded on &#8211; 09\/06\/2013 16:23:55 :::<\/span><\/p>\n<p>                                  11                                   ARBP101.07.sxw<\/p>\n<p>    17.   The next challenge to the award is the grant of interest upto the<\/p>\n<p>    date of the award at eighteen per cent per annum. Mr. Sheth stated<\/p>\n<p>    that the insurance policies do not contain any provision for interest.\n<\/p>\n<p>    He admitted that the interest is payable in view of the provisions of<\/p>\n<p>    Regulation 9 of the IRDA. Regulation 9 reads as under :-\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>           &#8220;9. Claim procedure in respect of a general<br \/>\n          insurance policy<\/p>\n<p>          (1) An insured or the claimant shall give notice to the<br \/>\n          insurer of any loss arising under contract of insurance at<\/p>\n<p>          the earliest or within such extended time as maybe<br \/>\n          allowed by the insurer. On receipt of such a<\/p>\n<p>          communication, a general insurer shall respond<br \/>\n          immediately and give clear indication to the insured on<br \/>\n          the procedures that he should follow. In cases where a<br \/>\n          surveyor has to be appointed for assessing a loss\/claim, it<br \/>\n          shall be done so within 72 hours of the receipt of<\/p>\n<p>          intimation from the insured.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>          (2) Where the insured is unable to furnish all the<br \/>\n          particulars required by the surveyor or where the<br \/>\n          surveyor does not receive the full cooperation of the<\/p>\n<p>          insured, the insurer or the surveyor as the case may be,<br \/>\n          shall inform in writing the insured about the delay that<br \/>\n          may result in the assessment of the claim. The surveyor<br \/>\n          shall be subjected to the code of conduct laid down by<br \/>\n          the Authority while assessing the loss, and shall<\/p>\n<p>          communicate his findings to the insurer within 30 days<br \/>\n          of his appointment with a copy of the report being<br \/>\n          furnished to the insured, if he so desires. Where, in<br \/>\n          special circumstances of the case, either due to its special<br \/>\n          and complicated nature, the surveyor shall under<br \/>\n          intimation to the insured, seek an extension from the<br \/>\n          insurer for submission of his report. In no case shall a<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                   ::: Downloaded on &#8211; 09\/06\/2013 16:23:55 :::<\/span><br \/>\n                                  12                                    ARBP101.07.sxw<\/p>\n<p>          surveyor take more than six months from the date of his<br \/>\n          appointment to furnish his report.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>          (3) If an insurer, on the receipt of a survey report,<br \/>\n          finds that it is incomplete in any respect, he shall require<\/p>\n<p>          the surveyor under intimation to the insured, to furnish<br \/>\n          an additional report on certain specific issues as may be<br \/>\n          required by the insurer. Such a request may be made by<br \/>\n          the insurer within 15 days of the receipt of the original<\/p>\n<p>          survey report.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>          (4) The surveyor on receipt of this communication<br \/>\n          shall furnish an additional report within three weeks of<br \/>\n          the date of receipt of communication from the insurer.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>          (5) On receipt of the survey report or the additional<\/p>\n<p>          survey report, as the case may be, an insurer shall within<br \/>\n          a period of 30 days offer a settlement of the claim to the<\/p>\n<p>          insured. If the insurer, for any reasons to be recorded in<br \/>\n          writing and communicated to the insured, decides to<br \/>\n          reject a claim under the policy, it shall do so within a<br \/>\n          period of 30 days from the receipt of the survey report or<br \/>\n          the additional survey report, as the case may be.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>          (6) Upon acceptance of an offer of settlement as stated<br \/>\n          in sub-regulation (5) by the insured, the payment of the<br \/>\n          amount due shall be made within 7 days from the date of<br \/>\n          acceptance of the offer by the insured. In the cases of<\/p>\n<p>          delay in the payment, the insurer shall be liable to pay<br \/>\n          interest at a rate which is 2% above the bank rate<br \/>\n          prevalent at the beginning of the financial year in which<br \/>\n          the claim is reviewed by it.&#8221;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>    18.   It was submitted that there was no evidence of the bank rate<\/p>\n<p>    prevalent at the relevant time. The arbitral tribunal awarded interest at<\/p>\n<p>    eighteen per cent per annum.       The submission, therefore, is that<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                    ::: Downloaded on &#8211; 09\/06\/2013 16:23:55 :::<\/span><br \/>\n                                  13                                   ARBP101.07.sxw<\/p>\n<p>    though interest could have been awarded under Regulation 9(6), there<\/p>\n<p>    was no evidence that the bank rate prevalent at the material time was<\/p>\n<p>    sixteen per cent.\n<\/p>\n<p>    19.   I will presume that there was no independent evidence<\/p>\n<p>    furnished as to the bank rate prevalent at the material time. I would<\/p>\n<p>    be reluctant, however, to set aside the award on this ground in the<\/p>\n<p>    facts of the present case. It is important to note that in the statement<\/p>\n<p>    of claim, the Respondent claimed interest at eighteen per cent per<\/p>\n<p>    annum. The claim obviously was, at least, purportedly on the basis<\/p>\n<p>    that it was as per law.\n<\/p>\n<p>                 In the reply to the statement of claim, the Petitioner<\/p>\n<p>    merely denied that the claimant i.e. the Respondent is entitled to<\/p>\n<p>    interest or interest at eighteen per cent per annum. There is no<\/p>\n<p>    allegation that the rate of interest at eighteen per cent per annum was<\/p>\n<p>    contrary to law. The averment, in fact, indicates that what was in fact<\/p>\n<p>    denied was the right to claim interest at all. The auxillary award deals<\/p>\n<p>    with the award of interest and the reasons for the same in detail. The<\/p>\n<p>    arbitral tribunal has applied the principle under Regulation 9(6) in<\/p>\n<p>    awarding interest. The liability to pay interest is not denied. In view<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                   ::: Downloaded on &#8211; 09\/06\/2013 16:23:55 :::<\/span><br \/>\n                                  14                                    ARBP101.07.sxw<\/p>\n<p>    of the pleadings and in view of there being nothing on record to<\/p>\n<p>    indicate that the implied assertion that the rate of eighteen per cent<\/p>\n<p>    claimed in the statement of claim is as per law and in view of the fact<\/p>\n<p>    that there is no evidence to indicate the contrary, I cannot fault the<\/p>\n<p>    arbitral tribunal for having allowed interest at eighteen per cent per<\/p>\n<p>    annum.\n<\/p>\n<p>    20.   At the highest, even in the event of there having been any<\/p>\n<p>    evidence on the part of the Petitioner about the bank rate being less<\/p>\n<p>    than sixteen per cent, the award could have been modified by reducing<\/p>\n<p>    the rate of interest. In the absence of anything to suggest that the rate<\/p>\n<p>    of interest was otherwise than as claimed, I see no reason to do so.\n<\/p>\n<p>    Even assuming this to be a lacunae\/error, the same could have been<\/p>\n<p>    filled up\/remedied without any difficulty. Had the Respondent<\/p>\n<p>    suggested another rate of interest, I would readily have modified the<\/p>\n<p>    award, had I found the suggestion to be justified.\n<\/p>\n<p>    21.   The challenge regarding the award of interest is also, therefore,<\/p>\n<p>    rejected.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                    ::: Downloaded on &#8211; 09\/06\/2013 16:23:55 :::<\/span><\/p>\n<p>                                  15                                   ARBP101.07.sxw<\/p>\n<p>    22.   Lastly, I see nothing wrong in the arbitral tribunal having<\/p>\n<p>    awarded interest even for the period from the date of the interim<\/p>\n<p>    report dated 14th January, 2003, and the on-account payment of Rs.\n<\/p>\n<p>    80,00,000\/- on 29th October, 2003. The arbitral tribunal held that there<\/p>\n<p>    was an inordinate delay in finalising the payment. In the<\/p>\n<p>    circumstances, the arbitral tribunal having awarded interest during this<\/p>\n<p>    period, cannot be faulted.\n<\/p>\n<p>    23.<\/p>\n<p>          There are a few observations in the Auxillary award which<\/p>\n<p>    appear to be incorrect. However the award can be sustained even on<\/p>\n<p>    the basis of the other findings in the award. The apparently incorrect<\/p>\n<p>    observations therefore do not warrant setting aside the award.\n<\/p>\n<p>    24.   Both the petitions are, therefore, dismissed with costs, fixed at<\/p>\n<p>    Rs.10,000\/- to be paid on or before 31st October, 2010. This order is<\/p>\n<p>    stayed upto 31st October, 2010, to enable the Petitioner to challenge<\/p>\n<p>    the same.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                   ::: Downloaded on &#8211; 09\/06\/2013 16:23:55 :::<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bombay High Court The New India Assurance Company &#8230; vs M\/S. Alan Scott Industries &#8230; on 3 September, 2010 Bench: S.J. Vazifdar 1 ARBP101.07.sxw IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION ARBITRATION PETITION NO. 101 OF 2007 The New India Assurance Company Limited, ] having its Registered and Head Office [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-201621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bombay-high-court","category-high-court"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The New India Assurance Company ... vs M\/S. Alan Scott Industries ... on 3 September, 2010 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; High Court | Legal India<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The New India Assurance Company ... vs M\/S. Alan Scott Industries ... on 3 September, 2010 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; High Court | Legal India\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; High Court | Legal India\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LegalindiaCom\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2010-09-02T18:30:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2017-03-05T00:55:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/09\/legal-india-icon.jpg?fit=512%2C512&ssl=1\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"512\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"512\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Legal India Admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@legaliadmin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Legal_india\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Legal India Admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"15 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Legal India Admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0bfdffe9059fb8bb24a86d094609c5ea\"},\"headline\":\"The New India Assurance Company &#8230; vs M\\\/S. Alan Scott Industries &#8230; on 3 September, 2010\",\"datePublished\":\"2010-09-02T18:30:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2017-03-05T00:55:37+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010\"},\"wordCount\":2814,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Bombay High Court\",\"High Court\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010\",\"name\":\"The New India Assurance Company ... vs M\\\/S. Alan Scott Industries ... on 3 September, 2010 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; High Court | Legal India\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2010-09-02T18:30:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2017-03-05T00:55:37+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The New India Assurance Company &#8230; vs M\\\/S. Alan Scott Industries &#8230; on 3 September, 2010\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/\",\"name\":\"Free Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India\",\"description\":\"Search and read the latest judgements, orders, and rulings from the Supreme Court of India and all High Courts. A comprehensive database for lawyers, advocates, and law students.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/#organization\"},\"alternateName\":\"Free judgements of Supreme Court & High Court of India | Legal India\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India\",\"alternateName\":\"Legal India\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/5\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/legal-india-icon.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/5\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/legal-india-icon.jpg\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/LegalindiaCom\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/Legal_india\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0bfdffe9059fb8bb24a86d094609c5ea\",\"name\":\"Legal India Admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4faa9d728ed1af3b73d52225c7f12901ac726fe6f7ea0a3348a1d51f3a930987?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4faa9d728ed1af3b73d52225c7f12901ac726fe6f7ea0a3348a1d51f3a930987?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4faa9d728ed1af3b73d52225c7f12901ac726fe6f7ea0a3348a1d51f3a930987?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Legal India Admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/legaliadmin\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/author\\\/legal-india-admin\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The New India Assurance Company ... vs M\/S. Alan Scott Industries ... on 3 September, 2010 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; High Court | Legal India","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The New India Assurance Company ... vs M\/S. Alan Scott Industries ... on 3 September, 2010 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; High Court | Legal India","og_url":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010","og_site_name":"Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; High Court | Legal India","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LegalindiaCom\/","article_published_time":"2010-09-02T18:30:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2017-03-05T00:55:37+00:00","og_image":[{"width":512,"height":512,"url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/09\/legal-india-icon.jpg?fit=512%2C512&ssl=1","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Legal India Admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@legaliadmin","twitter_site":"@Legal_india","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Legal India Admin","Est. reading time":"15 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010"},"author":{"name":"Legal India Admin","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/#\/schema\/person\/0bfdffe9059fb8bb24a86d094609c5ea"},"headline":"The New India Assurance Company &#8230; vs M\/S. Alan Scott Industries &#8230; on 3 September, 2010","datePublished":"2010-09-02T18:30:00+00:00","dateModified":"2017-03-05T00:55:37+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010"},"wordCount":2814,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/#organization"},"articleSection":["Bombay High Court","High Court"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010","url":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010","name":"The New India Assurance Company ... vs M\/S. Alan Scott Industries ... on 3 September, 2010 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; High Court | Legal India","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/#website"},"datePublished":"2010-09-02T18:30:00+00:00","dateModified":"2017-03-05T00:55:37+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/the-new-india-assurance-company-vs-ms-alan-scott-industries-on-3-september-2010#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The New India Assurance Company &#8230; vs M\/S. Alan Scott Industries &#8230; on 3 September, 2010"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/","name":"Free Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India","description":"Search and read the latest judgements, orders, and rulings from the Supreme Court of India and all High Courts. A comprehensive database for lawyers, advocates, and law students.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/#organization"},"alternateName":"Free judgements of Supreme Court & High Court of India | Legal India","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/#organization","name":"Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India","alternateName":"Legal India","url":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/09\/legal-india-icon.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/09\/legal-india-icon.jpg","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LegalindiaCom\/","https:\/\/x.com\/Legal_india"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/#\/schema\/person\/0bfdffe9059fb8bb24a86d094609c5ea","name":"Legal India Admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4faa9d728ed1af3b73d52225c7f12901ac726fe6f7ea0a3348a1d51f3a930987?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4faa9d728ed1af3b73d52225c7f12901ac726fe6f7ea0a3348a1d51f3a930987?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4faa9d728ed1af3b73d52225c7f12901ac726fe6f7ea0a3348a1d51f3a930987?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Legal India Admin"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.legalindia.com","https:\/\/x.com\/legaliadmin"],"url":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/author\/legal-india-admin"}]}},"modified_by":null,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201621","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=201621"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201621\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=201621"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=201621"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=201621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}