R.K. GAUBA, J.

1. Rakesh Kumar Arora s/o T.R. Arora (the appellant in MAC APP. No. 353/2006) had suffered injuries in a motor vehicular accident on 26.07.2000 in the area of Anupam Apartments, East Arjun Nagar, Delhi involving a Maruti car bearing registration no.DL-6CE-2181 ("the offending vehicle"). He took out claim petition under Section 166 read with Section 140 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (hereinafter referred to as "MV Act") on 09.01.2001, seeking compensation in the sum of Rs.15 lacs, inter-alia, claiming that he had suffered permanent disability. He impleaded Rinku Aggarwal in the array of parties (first respondent in MAC APP. No.353/2006) alleging that he was driver of the offending vehicle at the time of the accident. He also impleaded Purshottam Lal (second respondent in MAC APP. No.353/2006) in the array of parties stating that he was registered owner of the offending vehicle. The New India Assurance Company, 415, Main Mathura Road, New Delhi (appellant in MAC APP. No. 99/2006) was shown in the array of parties (as respondent no.3) with the allegations that the offending vehicle was insured with it. The claim petition, registered as suit no.251/2004, was i