ORDER 1. This appeal is filed by the appellant/claimant under section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act against the award dated 15.2.2011 passed by III Member MACT, Indore in claim case No. 215/2919. By the impugned award, the Claims Tribunal has awarded a total sum of Rs. 46,000/- as compensation with interest @ 6% per annum w.e.f. 6.12.2008 till its actual realization. 2. Learned counsel for the appellant submitted that as per the Circular issued by Reserves Bank of India, the appellant is entitled for interest @ 6% per annum, the rate of interest awarded by Claims Tribunal is on the lower side. 3. On the other hand, Shri Upadhyaya, learned counsel for the Insurance Company supported the award and the rate of interest awarded by the Tribunal and submitted that looking to the nature of injuries caused by the appellant, the amount of compensation awarded by Claims Tribunal is just and proper and no case for enhancement of rate of interest is made out and prayed for dismissal of the appeal. 4. Section 171 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 empowers the Tribunal to direct that "in addition to the amount of compensation simple interest shall also be paid at such rate and from such date not earlier than the date of making the claims as may be specified in this behalf'. Earlier 12% was found to be the reasonable rate of simple interest. With a change in economy and the policy of the Reserve Bank of India, the interest rate has been lowered.The national banks are now granting interest @ 9% on fixed deposits for one year. The Hon'ble Supreme Court, therefore, directed that the compensation amount shall bear interest @ 9% per annum from the date of the claim made by the claimants (See S. Kaushnuma Begum v. The New India Assurance Co. Ltd., AIR 2001 SC 485 .) 5. Taking into consideration the law laid down by the apex Court in the case of S. Kaushnuma Begum (supra), the claimant is entitled to compensation awarded and in addition to the same, simple interest @ 9% per annum from the date of application till its realization instead of paying it w.e.f. 6.12.2008. 6. With the aforesaid, the appeal is partly allowed without any order as to costs.