% 08.04.2011 Present: Mr. M.G. Kapoor, Advocate for the Petitioners in WP (C) No.1556/2008 & WP (C) No.6874/2008. Ms. Anjana Gosain, Advocate for Respondents 1 & 2 in WP (C) Nos.12224/2006; 5092/2008 & 6874/2008 with Mr. Bhupinder Sharma, Assistant Commandant, BSF. Mr. Rajat Soni, Advocate for Ms. Sonia Mathur, Advocate for the Respondent in WP(C) No.1556/2008. Mr. K.L. Nandwani & Mr. S.K. Ray, Advocates for United India Insurance. Mr. S.L. Gupta, Advocate for National Insurance Company Limited. + WP (C) Nos.12224/2006: 2292/2007: 1556/2008: 5092/2008 & 6874/2008 The National Insurance Company Limited (for short 'NICL') was served as apart from the cases in question in the present proceedings certain claims were pending as lodged by Ministry of Home Affairs qua the service personnel who had been injured during various operations. It is stated that there are 18 such cases. All other insurance companies have settled the matter. We expect the NICL also to accordingly settle the matter in terms of the settlement arrived at with other insurance companies within a maximum period of two (2) months from today. The details of these 18 cases still pending will be given by the learned counsel for the Union of India to learned counsel for the NICL within two (2) days. That leaves only one aspect - grant of interest for the delayed period. The dispute between the insurance companies and the Ministry has caused delay in payment to service personnel who WP (C) Nos.12224/2006; 2292/2007; 1556/2008; 5092/2008 & 6874/2008 Page 1 of 2 Digitally Signed By:AMULYA Signature Not Verified have suffered injuries in the defence of the country. With the intervention of the Court and the cooperative attitude of the concerned authorities and the insurance companies the main issue now stands resolved. We are, however, of the view that these persons who have already suffered injuries while defending the interests of the country at the borders should be compensated for the period of delay which is undisputably not due to the petitioners but because of the dispute between the Union of India and the insurance companies on account of delay in lodgement of claims. We quantify the interest at 9 per cent per annum (simple interest). We direct these payments to be made within a period of three (3) months from today. This benefit is admissible to the petitioners who have approached this Court. This amount will be paid by the Union of India, and the Union of India and the insurance companies can mutually work out an arrangement for sharing the burden of interest without affecting the payments to the petitioners in any manner. The petitions stand dispose of. V Dasti to learned counsel for the Union of India under the signatures of the Court Master. SANJATKlSH^m^ APRIL 08, 2011 MO b 'nesh WP (C) Nos.12224/2006:2292/2007;1556/2008;5092/2008&6874/2008 Page2 of2