As per case facts... The contractor was awarded a multi-claim arbitral award, including an interest component, which the District Judge set aside for being non-reasoned. The High Court, however, affirmed ... the award in its entirety. The Corporation appealed to the Supreme Court, limiting the challenge only to the 12% interest awarded on the claims from the date the statement of claim was affirmed. The question arose whether the contract clause stating "No interest shall be payable by ONGC on any delayed payment/disputed claim" constituted a bar to the arbitral tribunal's power to award pendente lite interest under Section 31(7)(a) of the 1996 Act. Finally... The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, holding that a clause merely barring interest on "delayed payment/disputed claim" is not an "express" or "necessary implication" bar to the arbitrator's statutory power to award pendente lite interest. The awarded interest rate was deemed reasonable