STATE OF PUNJAB Vs. RAJ RANI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The matter in controversy here is with regard to the vicarious; liability of the State of Punjab for the accident caused by the negligent driving of a Punjab Roadways bus, not by its driver, but the conductor thereof.

(2.) While waiting to see off his sister at the bus stand, Gurdaspur, Sodagar Singh and his minor son Sanjeev Kumar were run over and killed by a Punjab Roadways bus PPN 219 which suddenly came there from behind without warning. This happened on July 8, 1971.

(3.) It was the finding of the Tribunal that the bus was being driven by bus conductor Surinder Singh and that it was the rash and negligent driving thereof that was the cause of the accident. A sum of Rs.78,000/- was awarded as compensation to the widow mother and daughters of Sodagar Singh deceased.