Section 15: Award of Board

15. Award of Board (1) At the conclusion of an inquiry under section 14, the Board shall make an award on the claim for compensation and the Chairperson shall cause that award to be filed in the Registry. (2) In case of disagreement among the members of the Board, the decision of the majority of the members shall be the decision of the Board. (3) Where, with regard to the amount of compensation to be paid, all the members of the Board differ, the mean between the amount determined by the Chairperson and the amount determined by the other members which is nearer the amount determined by the Chairperson shall be the decision of the Board. (4) Every award shall state the total compensation to be paid and also the amounts awarded under different heads of compensation and the grounds for awarding each of those amounts. (5) Where a claim for compensation under section 11 specifies the amount to be paid as compensation, no award shall be made which is in excess of the amount claimed. (6) The Board, in awarding compensation, may allow interest at the legal rate, calculated from the date of the vesting of the property until the date of the award of the Board. (7) (a) The Chairperson shall make such order as to costs as he thinks fit in all the circumstances of the case. (b) An order made under paragraph (a) shall be enforced in the same manner as an order for costs in proceedings before a Judge. (c) Where the Chairperson orders a party to pay costs to the authorised officer, the authorised officer may deduct the amount so payable from the amount of any compensation to be paid to that party. (8) The award shall, within 7 days of being filed in the Registry, be notified, in writing, to the parties by the Registrar and shall, subject to section 19, be conclusive and binding upon them and any person claiming through them.