( 1 ) THIS appeal by the claimants, arises out of the judgment and award dated 30-3-1978 of the Motor Accidents claims Tribunal and II Addl. District judge, Dharwar (hereinafter referred to as the 'claims Tribunal') in M. C. (MVC) 55j1974 dismissing their claim for compensation of Rs. 2 - lakhs on account of the death of one Sudhir vasant Shivaj. kar (hereinafter referred to as 'sudhir') due to the motor accident that took place on 19-5-1974 a;t about 11-30 a. m. on the Dharwar-Belgaum road near a village called Kotur.

( 2 ) FOR the sake of convenience, we shall refer to the parties as 'petitioners' and 'respondents' as they were, referred to by the Claims Tribunal.

( 3 ) THE 1st petitioner is the wife, the second petitioner is the son, the third petitioner is the mother and the fourth petitioner is the father of Sudhir, the deceased in the case. They claimed a compensation of Rs. 2 lakhs for the death of Sudhir. According- to the petitioners, Sudhir was travelling in his car bearing registration No. MEL 1267 from Dharwar to Belgaum on the date of the accident. One Abhaya patravali (for short 'patravali') a friend of Sudhir was also in the car. Both of them left Dh