RAJ KUMAR MEHRA Vs. MALKIAT SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Puran Chand, his two sons, Sandeep Mehra and Lalit Mehra, and wife Poonam Mehra succumbed to the injuries received in a motor accident while travelling in their Maruti car No. DL 3C-N 8595 from Delhi to Jammu on 12.4.2000, when it was hit by truck bearing registration No. PB 29-C 9521 near Ajit Palace, Bhogpur, Punjab. Raj Kumar Mehra, the nephew of Puran Chand, filed four claim petitions claiming compensation for the death of his uncle, cousins Sandeep Mehra and Lalit Mehra and aunt Poonam Mehra.

(2.) Although the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Jammu found Malkiat Singh, the driver of truck No. PB 29-C 9521, responsible for rash and negligent driving of the offending vehicle, as a result whereof Raj Kumar Mehra's relations died, yet compensation for their death was declined to him on the ground that he was not dependent on the deceased.

(3.) Aggrieved by the rejection of his claim preferred in four claim petitions, the appellant has filed these appeals seeking setting aside of the award of the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Jammu dated 8.8.2003.