JUDGMENT :

C.T. Ravikumar, J.

The captioned appeals arise from the judgment and award passed by the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Thalassery in O.P. (M.V)No.1247 of 2002. The former appeal has been preferred by the petitioner in the said claim petition seeking for enhancement of the compensation granted by the Tribunal and the latter appeal has been preferred by the insurance company of the offending vehicle viz., the 3rd respondent before the Tribunal, seeking to set aside the award to the extent the Tribunal had declined its prayer for exoneration from the liability to indemnify the insured owner of the said vehicle. True that, alternatively, as an abundant caution, the appellant-insurance company has also mounted challenge against the quantum of compensation on the ground of exorbitancy. A succinct narration of the facts and circumstances that led to the filing of the said claim petition is required for a proper disposal of this appeal.

2. The appellant in the former appeal, viz., the petitioner met with the accident in question, on 1.4.2002 at the age of nine years. On th