IMPORTANT POINT
The court affirmed the validity of the driver's license and ruled that the Insurance Company failed to prove negligence, thus holding it liable for compensation.

JUDGMENT :

Radhakishan Agrawal, J.

1.As all the appeals filed by Insurance Company & claimants respectively arise out of the impugned awards dated 17.03.2016 passed by the 6th Additional Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, District Durg, C.G. in separate Claim Case No.102/2011 (MAC No.710/2016), Claim Case No.101/2011 (MAC No.711/2016 & MAC No.1243/2016), Claim Case No.95/2011 (MAC No.715/2016), Claim Case No.103/2011 (MAC No.716/2016 & MAC No.1245/2016), Claim Case No.100/2011 (MAC No.717/2016 & MAC No.1242/2016), Claim Case No.88/2011 (MAC No.718/2016 & MAC No.1244/2016) & Claim Case No.98/2011 (MAC No.814/2016), involving the same accident, therefore, they are being heard together and disposed of by this common judgment.

2.As per averments made in the claim petitions, on 13.12.2010 at about 8:30 pm, deceased persons after attending the engagement ceremony at village Lavar, were returning to their village Potiya by sitting in Maruti Van bearing registration No.CG04-B-3004, which was being driven by deceased-Gopal Tandon. However, on the way, when they reached Hathband Kamta Road near Crusher Machine, non-applicant No.1 / driver of the Truck bearing registration No.CG04-ZC-4052 (hereinafter called as 'offending vehicle'), by driving the same in rash and negligent manner, dashed the said Maruti Van, as a result of which, deceased persons, who were sitting in the said Maruti Van, sustained grievous injuries over their bodies and died. At the time of accident, offending vehicle was owned by non-applicant No.2 and insured with non-applicant No.3.

3.On account of death of deceased- Dovendra Kumar Joshi, a claim petition i.e. Claim Case No.102/2011 (MAC No.710/2016) was filed by the claimants under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act claiming compensation of Rs.24,70,000/- under various heads. The learned 6th Additional Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, District Durg, C.G., after considering the evidence led by the parties, by the impugned award granted a total compensation of Rs.10,54,000/- with interest @ 9% p.a from the date of application till its realization while fastening the liability on the Insurance Company / non-applicant no.3.

On account of death of deceased- Sawant Joshi, a claim petition i.e. Claim Case No.101/2011 (MAC No.711/2016 & MAC No.1243/2016) was filed by the claimants under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act claiming compensation of Rs.26,70,000/- under various heads. The learned 6th Additional Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, after considering the evidence led by the parties, by the impugned award granted a total compensation of Rs.11,54,000/- with interest @ 9% p.a. from the date of application till its realization while fastening the liability on the Insurance Company / non-applicant no.3.

On account of death of deceased- Gopal Tondan, a claim petition i.e. Claim Case No.95/2011 (MAC No.715/2016) was filed by the claimants under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act claiming compensation of Rs.40,00,000/- under various heads. The learned 6th Additional Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, District Durg, C.G., after considering the evidence led by the parties, by the impugned award granted a total compensation of Rs.12,64,000/- with interest @ 9% p.a from the date of application till its realization while fastening the liability on the Insurance Company/non-applicant no.3.

On account of death of deceased- Raju Joshi, a claim petition i.e. Claim Case No.103/2011 (MAC No.716/2016 & MAC No.1245/2016) was filed by the claimants under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act claiming compensation of Rs.63,20,000/- under various heads. The learned 6th Additional Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, District Durg, C.G., after considering the evidence led by the parties, by the impugned award granted a total compensation of Rs.12,64,000/- with interest @ 9% p.a from the date of application till its realization while fastening the liability on the Insurance Company/non-applicant no.3.

On account of death of deceased- Golu Joshi, a claim