HARINDER SINGH SIDHU,J. - (1.) By filing this appeal, the Oriental Insurance Company Limited has challenged the Award dated 03.12.2015 passed in MACT No.22 of 01.06.2015 by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Patiala (for short 'the Tribunal') awarding compensation of Rs.8,62,000/- along with interest for the death of Arun Kumar in a motor vehicular accident.
(2.) Brief facts of the case are that on 20.7.2014, at about 8.30 a.m., Arun Kumar and his friend Hanish Kumar were returning to Rajpura from Naina Devi Mandir on their motorcycle bearing registration No.PB-23L- 5525. Arun Kumar was driving the said motorcycle. When they had reached near bus stand of village Jansua, the motorcycle was hit by Bolero Jeep bearing registration No. PB-65V-5808, which was being driven by Nirmal Singh - respondent No.3 at a very fast speed and in an utterly rash and negligent manner. As a result of the accident, Arun Kumar and Hanish Kumar fell on the road. Respondent No.3-Nirmal Singh stopped the offending vehicle at some distance but on seeing the condition of the injured, he ran away. Hanish Kumar had noted the registration number of the offending vehicle. The injured were shifted to Gian Sagar Hospital, Banur. From there, Arun Kumar was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. Later on, he was admitted in Government Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh, where, he succumbed to the injuries on the same day at about 9 p.m. FIR No.115 dated 21.07.2014, under Sections 279, 337, 304-A, 427 IPC was registered at Police Station Shambu regarding this accident.
(3.) The legal representatives of the deceased filed claim petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 pleading that the deceased was aged about 24 years and was working as skilled helper, earning Rs.30,000/- per month.;