JUDGMENT

H.L. Dattu, CJI.

1. In view of the reference order dated 13.03.2012, this Civil Appeal and the matters connected therewith are placed before a three-Judge Bench of this Court for consideration and decision. The question before this Court is, whether the decision of this Court in State of Haryana and Ors. v. S.L. Arora & Co. (2010) 3 SCC 690, wherein it is held that an award of interest on interest from the date of award is not permissible Under Sub-section (7) of Section 31 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (for short, "the Act, 1996"), is in consonance with earlier decisions of this Court. A two-Judge Bench of this Court, by the said reference order, is of the opinion that the present appeal and the connected matters would need to be heard by a Bench of three Judges of this Court.

2. By the referral order dated 13.03.2012, it is found that the learned Counsel for the Appellants therein would doubt the correctness of the decision in the S.L. Arora case (supra) in light of McDermott International INC v. Burn Standard Co. Ltd. and Ors. (2006) 11 SCC 181; Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Federation Limited v. Three Circles (2009) 10 SCC 374; Oil and Natural Gas Commission v