JUDGMENT

Leave granted.

2. The sole dispute in these cases is with regard to the payment of interest when the proceedings under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1956 were pending before the High Court. In the case before us, we find that the award was passed on 02.03.2001. When the matters were pending before the High Court, there was a direction vide order dated 04.02.2003 to deposit the Principal amount before the High Court. The amount was deposited on 03.03.2003.

3. Subsequently, by order dated 22.05.2003, the High Court, on the request made by the respondent, directed the Court deposit to be made as a Fixed Deposit in a nationalist bank. Ultimately, the objections were rejected on 02.06.2006 and the appeal thereon was also dismissed on 27.09.2006. Placing reliance on the decision of Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority and Anr. Vs. Ranjit Singh Rana reported in (2012) 4 SCC 505, it is contended by the learned counsel appearing for the appellants that once the amount is deposited in Court, there is no liberty to pay interest in terms of the award.

4. Paragraph 15 of the Judgment reads as under :-

“The word 'payment' may have different mean