( 1 ) THE plaintiff in OS No. 185/83 on the file of the Addl. Dist. Judge, Rangareddy District at Begumpet, Secunderabad is the appellant herein and the present appeal is preferred against the judgment and decree in OS No, 185/83. The appellant-plaintiff is a nationalised bank viz. Andhra Bank, Sultanbazar Branch, Hyderabad, filed a suit for recovery of a sum of Rs. 9,49,137-54 and they sought a decree against D1 to D7 (respondents 1 to 7) who are the partners and also against D8 (respondents herein) who created an equitable mortgage. The fact of amount that was lent to the sick unit which was meant for commercial purpose is not in dispute. The default committed by the respondent-defendants is also not in dispute. Since the appellant-plaintiff failed in recovering the amount due, filed the suit and the court below after considering the evidence granted decree for the original amount that has been claimed and with interest at 6% p. a. from the date of suit till the date of realisation. While granting the decree with interest at 6% p. a. the lower court relied upon the decisions reported in S. P. Majoo v. Gangadhar, AIR 1969 SC 600, Jaigobind Singh v. Lachminarain, AIR 1940 FC 20; and also P. O. Rao v. Andhra Bank Ltd. , AIR 1973 AP 245. The appellant-bank being aggrieved that as it is a commercial transaction and as the amount that has been lent is only for commercial purpose and while the agreed contractual rate of interest is at 17% p. a. it is contended that the court below ought not have granted interest at 6% p. a. from the date of suit till the date of realisation.

( 2 ) GRANTING of interest subsequent to the filing of the suit as contemplated under S. 34 of Code of Civil Procedure is discretionary one. The Court may as per the proviso to Section 34, CPC, which read as follows:"whether the liability in relation to the sum so adjudged had arisen out of a commercial transaction, the rate of such further interest may exceed at 6% per annum, but shall not exceed contractual rate of interest or where there is no contractual rate, the rate at which moneys are lent or advanced by nationalised banks in relation to commercial transac tions. " On a reading of this proviso it can never be said that the Court can grant only 6% p. a. interest from the date of institution of the suit, though the discretion has to be exercised judiciously. The discretion can be exercised on the basis of the proviso by granting interest from 6% p. a. , to the contractual rate that has been entered into between the parties concerned. In this case, sufficient reasons have been given by the Court below as to why interest at 6% p. a. , from the date of suit till the date of realisation was granted. In a decision reported in P. G. Rao v. Andhra Bank Limited (supra) a Divisional Bench of this Court is of the view that: "in suit for redemption the courts are under no obligation to award interest at the contractual rate after the date of redemption, even though that rate is not penal or excessive. Award of interest for period subsequent to the date of the suit is discretionary with the Courts. " The Division Bench relied upon the Supreme Court decision reported in S. P. Majoo v. Gangadhar (supra ). The Supreme Court in turn relied upon the decision reported in Jaigobind Singh v. Lachminarain (supra) wherein they have held that it is not absolutely obligatory on the Courts to decree interest at the contractual rates after the dates of redemption in all circumstances even if it is not penal, excessive or substantially unfair and the Courts have got discretion so far as interest payable subsequent to the date of the suit is concerned.

( 3 ) THE Courts, undoubtedly, have got discretion but that discretion has to be exercised basing on the facts and circumstances that has been brought out therein. It is not an absolute rule that even in the case of commercial transactions where the amount lent for commercial purpose, the Court must grant interest only 6% p. a. from t

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