( 1 ) FOUR Motor Accident Claim Petitions bearing Nos. 4 of 1974 5 of 1974 6 of 1974 and 7 of 1974 were filed before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal Banaskantha District at Palanpur which arose out of an accident which occurred on 16-9-1973 on account of a collision between a jeep bearing No. GJF 348 and an S. T. Bus resulting into personal injuries to Thakkar Delpatram Sundarji the driver of the jeep and the two other passengers of the jeep Mir Gafurbhai Suleman and Mir Ranchhodji Dhudaji Dodia and in a fatal accident to one Manji Bhaga. The jeep was driven by Thakkar Dalpatram Sundarji President of the Deodar Taluka Panchayat and three other unfortunate victims noted above were the passengers occupying the seats in the jeep behind the driver. Thakkar Dalpatram Sundarji had gone to village Chalve from Deodar and from there he had gone to village Luvana wherefrom he was returning when the collision occurred at about 6 P. M. on the Deodar-Jetada Road. When the jeep came near Deodar -Jetada Road the S. T. Bus driven by respondent No. 2 Ranchhodbhai Shankerbhai Patel crossed from Deodar side and suddenly took a turn towards Luvana. It is alleged that both the vehicl