HARYANA URBAN DEV. AUTHORITY vs S.P. GUPTA

The Supreme Court held that interest at the rate of 18% per annum cannot be uniformly applied in all cases, as established in Ghaziabad Development Authority vs. Balbir Singh (2004) 5 SCC 65. The Court emphasized that compensation for mental agony and harassment must correlate with actual loss or injury, and that the Consumer Forums must determine deficiency in service or misfeasance in public office. The National Commission's order increasing the interest rate to 18% was set aside, and the District Forum's awards for compensation and interest were upheld.