In the High Court of Uttaranchal at Nainital. 1- A.O. No. 469/2001 (Old No. 1183 of 1999) Oriental Insurance Company Ltd. through its Asstt. Manager, Divisional Office No.1, 16-A M.G. Marg, Allahabad …. Appellant. Vs. Smt. Parvati Devi and 4 others …. Respondents. 2- A.O. No.522/2001 Oriental Insurance Company Ltd. through its Asstt. Manager, Divisional Office No.1, 16-A M.G. Marg, Allahabad …. Appellant. Vs. Smt. Prabha Devi and others …. Respondents. 3- A.o.No. 578/2001 Oriental Insurance Company Ltd. through its Asstt. Manager, Divisional Office No.1, 16-A M.G. Marg, Allahabad …. Appellant. Vs. Smt. Sudha Devi and others …. Respondents. Sri T.A. Khan, learned counsel for the appellant. None appear for respondents. Date: 18-8-2004 Hon’ble P.C. Verma, J. Hon’ble B.S. Verma, J. These appeals have been filed against the award dated 9-9-1998, made by the Motor Accident Claim Tribunal/District Judge Pauri Garhwal, in M.A.C.T. Case No. 123/1997, M.A.C.T. Case No.84/1997 and M.A.C.T. Case No. 91/1997. 2- Brief facts giving rise to these appeals are that on 12-4-1997 at about 2 p.m. at Chipalaghaat, Pauri bus no. U.T.S. 1029 met with an accident in which 25 persons had died at the spot and some had received injuries. The injured persons and the heirs of the deceased had filed 25 claim petitions. These claims were consolidated by the Motor Accident Claim Tribunal Pauri Garhwal and awarded compensation. The Tribunal directed the Insurance Company to pay the compensation amounts within a month from the date of award, failing which it shall pay interest @ 18% per annum. 3- At the time of hearing of appeal the learned counsel for the appellants conceded that he wants to press only the plea of reduction of interest awarded by the tribunal. We find that the rate of interest awarded by the tribunal is exorbitant. Therefore, we reduce the rate of interest from 18% to 9% per annum from the date of award made by the tribunal. 4- With the above modification in the rate of interest these appeals are hereby disposed of. (B.S. Verma, J.) (P.C. Verma, J.) ISB