M.Y.Eqbal, J.

1. The appellant, who is the owner of the vehicle, has filed this appeal against the judgment and award dated 2.7,1996 passed by the Addl. District & Sessions Judge cum Accident claims Tribunal, Gumla (hereinafter referred to as the Tribunal) in M.J.C. No. 10 of 1989 by which the learned Tribunal awarded a sum of Rs. 1.5 lakhs to the claimant respondent No. 1 and apportioned the liability between the appellant and respondent No. 2, the United India Insurance Company Limited. By the said judgment and award, the appellant was directed to pay Rs. 1,00,000.00 (rupees one lakh) holding that the liability of the respondent Insurance Company is limited to the extent of Rs. 50,000.00 (rupees fifty thousand).

2. The facts of the case lie in a very narrow compass. The claimants filed an application under Sec. 110-A of the Motor Vehicles Act for grant of compensation on account of death of her husband Khabail Oraon, who died in a motor vehicle accident. In the said claim case, the appellant and the respondent No. 2 were impleaded as owner and the insurer of the bus bearing registration No. NKI 6366. The case of the claimants is that on the relevant date, the deceased was