S.S. Sodhi, J. - (1.) The claim in appeal here is for enhanced compensation. The claimant being widow, son and daughter of Harinder Singh deceased who was liked while driving his car MAR-181 when involved in an accident with the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation bus PUV-2252, coming from the opposite direction. This accident took place at about 5.00P.M. on July 31, 1983 on the road between Zirakpur and Rajpura. Holding that the bus driver was entirely to blame for the accident, the Tribunal awarded a sum of Rs. 65,600/- as compensation to the claimants.
(2.) A reference to the evidence on record would show that Harinder Singh deceased was about 34 years of age the time of his death. He died leaving behind his 27 years old widow Jagdish Kaur and two minor children, his daughter Ritu aged 8 years and his 5 years old son Simran Singh. His Widow and children were wholly dependent upon him.
(3.) Harinder Singh deceased was a taxi driver, When she came into the witness box, A.W.4 Jagdish Kaur, his widow, sought to make tall claims with regard to the financial status of the deceased by disposing that he owned five cars and also had a hotel in Bombay, besides a motor spare-parts shop at Patiala. She was, however, unable to produce any papers showing the ownership of any car by her deceased husband or any bill book of the hotel the he was said to have owned in Bombay. No corroborative evidence with regard to the motor spare part shop is also forthcoming. What has instead come on record is the Statement of A.W.7C.C. T.C. Mehta of the Income Tax Office, Patiala, who brought the Income Tax returns of Harinder Singh deceased as reflected therein was only Rs. 2014/- while no return had been filed by him for the year 1978/79.;