HARMINDER SINGH Vs. SUKHPINDER SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) SEVERAL passengers were injured and some died too, in a head-on collision between two Punjab Roadways Buses PUI-6329 and PUC-6510 coming from opposite directions. This happened on July 13, 1979 near village Badowal on the G.T. Road between Ludhiana and Jullundur. Amongst the injured was Dr. Harminder Singh, while those killed included this son Paramjit Singh, Fateh Singh and Jagjit Kaur and her six month old son Bipan.

(2.) THE Tribunal returned a finding against the two bus-drivers on the issue of negligence and consequently held them and their employer. The State of Punjab liable for payment of compensation to the claimants. The amount awarded in the case of Dr. Harminder Singh, for the injuries sustained being Rs 56,000/- while in the other case relating to his son Paramjit Singh, Rs 30,000/- were awarded to him and his wife Sowarnjit Kaur for the financial loss suffered by them on account of his death. The parents of Fateh Singh deceased were awarded Rs. 26,000/-. As regards Jagjit Kaur and her minor daughter Bipan, the compensation awarded was Rs. 18,000/- and Rs. 12,000/- respectively.

(3.) BEGINNING here with the case of Dr. Harminder Singh, the evidence on record shows that he suffered as many as 12 injuries in this accident, P.W. 11 Dr Niman Mathew Registrar, Department of Ortheopaedic at the Brown Hospital. Ludhiana, who examined Dr. Harminder Singh, on the date of the accident, found his injuries to be as under: