HARISH CHANDRA Vs. NEW INDIA ASSURANCE CO.LTD.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In revision petition No.2525 of 2006, the petitioner complainant impugns the order dated 7.8.2006 of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Delhi(hereafter, ˜State Commission) in complaint case No.153 of 1998. This order of the State Commissions is based on an application dated 2.7.2005(for some reason, numbered in the State Commissions order as EX 153 of 1998) of the complainant. In this application, the complainant claimed interest @ 12% per annum on the awarded insurance claim of Rs.3,60,000 for the period April 1997(date of accident to the vehicle in question) to February 2005(date of realization of payment). This application was, in turn, a sequel to the order dated 6.9.2004 of the State Commission in complaint case No.153 of 1998 filed by the said petitioner. In this order, the State Commission awarded the following reliefs to the complainant(petitioner herein): In view of the foregoing reasons we allow the complaint and direct OP No.1 to pay to the complainant a sum of Rs.3,60,000 as per settlement with the surveyor together with interest @ 12% per annum and compensation of Rs.50,000 for having caused mental agony and harassment to the complainant by repudiating his rightful claim and forcing him to approach this Commission.

(2.) This order of the State Commission does not, on the face of it, specify the period over which interest as ordered would accrue.

(3.) In the cross -revision petition No.4019 of 2006, filed by the New India Assurance Co. Ltd., the petitioner(hereafter, the ˜Insurance Company) has also impugned the same order dated 6.8.2006 of the State Commission, allowing interest @ 12% per annum from the date of accident till the filing of the complaint by the respondent(Harish Chadha).