Should the arbitrator opt not to exercise their discretion, the statutorily provided interest amount of 18% per annum would be applicable for the post-award period. (ii) Hyder Consulting (UK) Ltd. v. State of Orissa In Hyder Consulting (UK) Ltd. v. State of Orissa 14, a 2-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court doubted the correctness of the decision rendered in S.L. Arora 15 and accordingly referred the matter to a 3-Judge Bench giving rise to three separate judgments. 16 S.A. Bobde, J., while expressing his view, observed that the view in S.L. Arora 17 that pre-award interest ought not to be included in "sum" for calculating the post-award interest was erroneous. As per Bobde, J., since the Parliament had not qualified the word "sum" with "principal", the word "sum" would only take the meaning of a particular amount and shall include both principal and interest.