MACApp. 98/2001 BEFORE THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE B.P. KATAKEY Heard Mr. B.K. Jain, learned counsel for the appellant and Ms. M. Choudh ury, learned counsel appearing for the respondent insurance company. The appellant in this appeal has claimed interest on the awarded amount with effect from the date of filing the claim petition contending inter alia tha t though they are entitled to the same, the Tribunal has passed the award for in terest with effect from the date of the judgment. The said prayer has been opposed by the insurance company contending int er alia that there may be delay attributable to the appellant while disposing of the MAC case by the Tribunal, which may be the reason for not awarding the inte rest on the awarded amount with effect from the date of filing the claim petitio n. To appreciate the contention as to whether there was any delay attributa ble to the appellant, the relevant records were called for and perused by me, wh erefrom it appears that the application under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act was filed in the year 1999 and decided in the year 2001 i.e. within a period of 2(two) years. Perusal of the records also reveals that the delay in disposal of the aforesaid proceeding cannot be attributed to the appellant. Since the appellant has been deprived from the amount to which he is ent itled to, he has to be compensated by awarding interest with effect from the dat e of filing the claim petition. Hence the appeal is disposed of directing payment of interest @9% per an num on the compensation awarded by the Tribunal from the date of filing the clai m petition till the date of payment. The interest payable shall be deposited by the insurance company before the Tribunal within a period of 1(one) month from t oday and on such deposit the amount shall be released in favour of the claimants by account payee cheque and on being duly identified to the satisfaction of the learned Member. The appeal is accordingly disposed of.