S.S.SODHI,J. - (1.) THE claim is appeal here is for enfhanced compensation arising from the death of Hazara Ram who was killed while standing on the road side getting his shoes polished at the bus-stand Bassi Daulat Khan when the truck HPM-1281 went off the road and knocked him down. This happened at about 12 noon of January 20, 1983. After holding that the accident had been caused due to the negligence of the truck-driver, the Tribunal awarded a sum of Rs. 12,000/-as compensation to the widow and daughter of Hazara Ram deceased.
(2.) IT appears from the evidence on record that Hazara Ram deceased was about 60 years of age at the time of his death and he died leaving behind his 50 to 55 years old widow-Smt. Karmi and his unmarried daughter Darshna, who was about 23 years of age besides other children who were all majors. The widow-Smt. Karmi and the unmarried daughter Kumari Darshna were both wholly dependant upon Hazara Ram deceased. According the P.W.5-Thakur Dass the son of Hazara Ram deceased, his father used to do Agriculture work and also deal in potatoes. The income of the deceased, he deposed was about Rs. 800/- per month out of which he provided Rs. 600/- per month for house-hold expenses. There is, however, no corroborative evidence to show that Hazara Ram was indeed dealing in potatoes. In this situation, the Tribunal cannot be faulted for treating Hazara Rani Deceased merely as an Agricultural worker and assessing his income accordingly. The amount awarded even on this basis cannot, however but, be held to be wholly inadequate keeping in view the age and number of persons dependent upon his as also the liability that he had upon his of the marriage of his unmarried daughter-Darshna. Keeping in view, therefore, the principles laid down by the Full Bench in Lachhman Singh and Ors. v. Gurmit Kaur and Ors. 1979 P.L.R.-1, in the context of the circumstances and situation of the claimants and the deceased the compensation payable to them clearly deserves to be enhanced and is thus assessed at Rs. 30,000/-. The compensation payable to the widow Smt. Karmi and the daughter Kumari Darshna is accordingly hereby enhanced to Rs. 30,000/- which they shall be entitled to along with interest at the rate of 12 per cent. Per annum from the date of the application to the dale of the payment of the amount awarded. This appeal is accordingly accepted to this extent. There will, however, be no order as to costs.;