Unitech Limied vs Telangana State Industrial ... on 17 February, 2021
(2002) 1 SCC 367
16
Oriental Kuries Ltd. v. Lissa, (2019) 19 SCC 732; Bhubaneshwar Development Authority v. Susanta Kumar
Mishra, (2009) 4 SCC 684
17
(1987) 2 SCC 424
40
PART E
“5…“The question whether a particular stipulation in a
contractual agreement is in the nature of a penalty has to be
determined by the court against the background of various
relevant factors, such as the character of the transaction and
its special nature, if any, the relative situation of the parties,
the rights and obligations accruing from such a transaction
under the general law and the intention of the parties in
incorporating in the contract the particular stipulation which is
contended to be penal in nature. If on such a comprehensive
consideration, the court finds that the real purpose for which
the stipulation was incorporated in the contract was that by
reason of its burdensome or oppressive character it may
operate in terrorem over the promiser so as to drive him to
fulfil the contract,, then the provision will be held to be one by
way of penalty.”
Therefore, considering the position of Unitech-which knowingly entered into the
Development Agreement with full knowledge of the pending litigation and with an
intention to continue with the project after a delay of over seven years, up until a
decision by this Court, we find that the interest rate is payable to Unitech, without
compounding.