JUDGMENT

Ruma Pal, J.-Leave granted.

2. An agreement was entered into between the appellant and the respondent by which the respondents undertook the construction of residential flats. The agreement contained an arbitration clause. After the completion of the work, disputes arose between the parties. The disputes were referred to a panel of three arbitrators under the provisions of the Arbitration Act, 1940 (referred to as the Act). By an award made on 31st December 1987 the arbitrators directed the appellant to pay the respondents various amounts towards the several heads of claim put forward by the respondents. The arbitrators also awarded interest in respect of certain of the respondents claims. As the dispute in this appeal centers around the right of the respondent to claim interest, the relevant portion of the award in this context is extracted (wherein the appellant herein is referred to as the respondent and the respondent herein as the claimant ) :

"Respondent to pay claimant interest @ 9% from 29.5.80.

Respondent to pay claimant interest at 10% from 1.2.1985 on claims III to IX and on Claim XII only".

3. The award was filed in the local Court which issued notice under Se