THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE GHULAM MOHAMMED M.A.C.M.A.Nos.1275, 1276 and 1277 of 2005 COMMON JUDGMENT: The appellant-Insurance Company filed all these appeals under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 against the common order, dated 16.03.2005 passed in O.P.Nos.167, 165 and 163 of 2000 by the Chairman, Motor Accident Claims Tribunal- cum-District Judge, Khammam, (for short ‘the Tribunal’) respectively. 2. Since all these appeals arise out of the same accident, they are being taken up for disposal by this common judgment. 3. The brief facts of the case are as follows: On 05.12.1999, while the claimants in the above said O.Ps and others were returning to Khammam from Kambhaladinne village of Prakasham District in a Maruthi Car bearing No.AP 20 B 3366 and when they reached near Thakkellapadu village of Guntur District, one Ambassador car bearing No.MG-01-G-5867, driven by its driver in a rash and negligent manner and dashed the car, as a result of which, all the claimants sustained injuries. They filed O.P.Nos.167, 165 and 163 of 2000 claiming compensation of Rs.2,00,000/-, Rs.1,00,000/- and Rs.20,000/- against the appellant and respondent Nos.2 to 4 respectively. The appellant-insurer contested the claim by filing a counter-affidavit. By the common order impugned, the Tribunal awarded a sum of Rs.76,000/-, Rs.65,000/- and Rs.13,000/- to the claimants in O.P.Nos.167, 165 and 163 of 2000 respectively, payable by the appellant and respondent Nos.2 and 3 with proportionate costs and interest @ 9% per annum from the date of the petition till the date of realisation. 4. Learned Standing Counsel for the appellant has not disputed the quantum of compensation awarded by the Tribunal and the liability, but he prays to reduce the rate of interest from 9% to 7% per annum on the compensation awarded by the Tribunal from the date of the impleadment of the appellant in all the O.Ps i.e., 03.01.2005, but not from the date of the petition till realisation. 5. There is no dispute as regards the quantum of compensation awarded by the Tribunal and the liability fastened on the appellant and respondent Nos.2 and 3. As regards the interest awarded by the Tribunal, following the decision of the Apex Court in a catena of its judgments, it can be reduced. Hence, interest on the compensation awarded by the Tribunal is reduced from 9% to 7% per annum. Since the appellant was impleaded on 03.01.2005 in all the O.Ps., the said rate of interest shall be paid from the date of the said impleadment till the date of realisation. The award of the Tribunal in all other aspects shall remain unaltered. 6. With the above modification, all the Civil Miscellaneous Appeals are allowed in part. No costs. _____________________ GHULAM MOHAMMED, J Date:22.10.2010 sj