MANAGING DIRECTOR RAJASTHAN Vs. CHUNA RAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD the learned Counsel for the parties on appeal filed by appellant Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation.

(2.) BRIEF facts of the case are that on 10.6.1991, the bus of the appellant RNP 3139 was going from Phalodi to Bikaner and at 6.30 to 7 a.m., before Bikaner near Gajner, it met with an accident with truck No. RRN 2289 by which truck driver Bacchu Khan and three other persons Khuda Bux, Bhanwar Singh and Laxman Singh died. The passengers travelling in the bus, i.e., Sohanlal, Salmat Banu, Rakesh Bhargawa, Mani Ram, Nand Kumar, Chuna Ram, Chhaganlal and Mahadeo Singh suffered injuries. Claim cases were filed before the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Bikaner impleading the appellant and the owner of the truck and the insurance company who insured the truck in the claim petitions. In all these claim cases, learned Tribunal decided the claim by common award dated 27.10.1995 holding that there was contributory negligence on the part of driver of the bus as well as driver of the truck and, therefore, held that appellant as owner of the bus and the respondent as owner of truck and the driver and insurance company of the truck are liable to contribute the 50 per cent of the award amount to the claimants.

(3.) HEARD the learned Counsel for the parties and perused the record. In support of claim, the Tribunal after considering the evidence awarded the above amount and learned Counsel for the appellant could not point out any incredibility in the above amount except the submission that as per Schedule under Section 163 -A of Motor Vehicles Act, the amount of claim for grievous injury can be Rs. 5,000 and for simple injury it can be Rs. 1,000. The submission of the learned Counsel for the appellant is devoid of force.