1. These eight appeals have been filed by the State of Himachal Pradesh appellant against the awards/judgments, dated 31st Dec., 1979 made by the District Judge, Mandi exercising the powers of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal in eight claim petitions filed by the claimants-respondents under S.110-A of the Motor Vehicles Act.

2. The brief facts are that a Himachal Pradesh P.W.D. Truck No. HPU 294 was carrying certain persons (who were working as labourers on the Pandoh-Kulu Road with the P.W.D. authorities) to their houses and these persons boarded the truck at village Hanogi. This truck met with an accident on 21st July, 1974 at 5 P.M. near Thalot on the Pando-Kulu Road, with the result that some persons died as a result of the accident.

3. The claimants in each petition claimed themselves to be the legal representatives of the deceased persons and as such filed claim petitions under S.110-A of the Motor Vehicles Act claiming compensation. It was alleged in the petitions that the accident was the result of rash and negligent driving of the truck, HPU 294, by Daulat Ram driver, and as such the claimants were entitled to receive the compensation.

4. All the claim petitions, ex