S.S.SODHI,J. - (1.) SADHU Singh was killed while driving his car CH-1108 when it met with an accident with the bus PNC-1766 near a canal bridge on the Malerkotia-Raikot Road. This happened on February 16, 1974.
(2.) A claim for campensation arising from the death of Sadhu Singh was put in by his widow Smt. Jasmel Kaur and their minor son Swaranjit Singh and by Smt. Tej Kaur, the mother of Sadhu Singh deceased as also by his sister Joginder Kaur. The Tribunal came to the finding that the accident had taken place due to the rash and negligent driving of the respondent-bus driver and awarded Rs. 82,200/- as compensation to the three claimants namely the mother, widow and minor son of the deceased. The respondent-Raikot Bus Service and the bus driver were held jointly and severally liable for the amount awarded. The respondent-Insurance Company was also held liable, but only to the extent of Rs. 20,000/-.
(3.) THE award of the Tribunal has led to the filing of two appeals one by the Raikot Bus Service, challenging both the findings of negligence recorded against the bus driver as also the amount awarded as compensation while the insurance company in the appeal filed by it sought to question its liability for payment of compensation in this case. The claimants, on the other hand, filed cross-objections in both these appeals seeking enhanced compensation.;