RAM SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE claim for compensation here is by Ram Singh, Postal Assistant, who sustained serious injuries resulting in amputation of his right leg and including fractures of his left leg, when he was run over by the Punjab Roadways bus PNH-9869. This accident occurred at a crossing in Hoshiarpur at about 9-30 A.M. on December 7, 1982. The crossing being of the Tanda-Hoshiarpur Road and the Subhash Nagar-Model Town. The bus came on to the crossing from the side of Tanda while the claimant-Ram Singh who was on a cycle entered it from the Subhash Nagar Road on its right.

(2.) ACCORDING to the claimant, he accompanied by two other Postal Assistants, namely; Hazura Singh and Saran Dass Chopra was proceeding towards the City Post Office when he while going ahead tried to cross the road. The bus came from the side of Tanda, struck against him and ran him over. Rash and negligent driving was attributed by him to the bus-driver.

(3.) THE case of the claimant rests upon the testimony of PW 5 Hazura Singh and PW 6--Saran Das. They deposed when they reached near the crossing, they noticed the bus coming at a very fast speed from the side of Tanda. The claimant, Ram Singh who was about 10/15 yards ahead of them had crossed the road when the bus, according to PW 5 Hazura Singh went on to its wrong side and struck against his cycle. PW-6 Saran Das, on the other hand, deposed that Ram Singh was in the process of crossing the road when the bus struck against him, but then again said that he had just crossed the road when the accident occurred. The claimant, PW-4 Ram Singh stated that he had crossed the road when the bus came and knocked him down.