North Karanpura Transmission Company ... vs Central Electricity Regulatory ... on 23 February, 2023
80. (iv) Three vessels, which stood berthed off the coast of Kolkata,
constituted the subject matter of controversy in the petition, preferred under
Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, in THAR CAMPS PVT
LTD VS INDUS RIVER CRUISES PVT LTD : 2021 SCC Online Del 3150. The
Delhi High Court relied on the judgement of the Supreme Court in Union of
India v. Raman Iron Foundry, (1974) 2 SCC 231 wherein it was held that a
claim for damages for breach of contract was not a claim for a sum presently
due and payable; damages are the compensation which a Court of Law gives
to a party for the injury he has sustained and the plaintiff does not get damages
or compensation by reason of any existing obligation on the part of the person
who has committed the breach; he gets compensation as a result of the fiat of
the Court; therefore, it has to be decided by the Court, in the first instance, that
the defendant is liable and then it proceeds to assess what that liability is; till
that determination, there is no liability at all upon the defendant; and there
would not be any debt payable unless the Court determines the liability.