1) Two persons namely, Shamas-ud-Din and Ghulam Rasool, working as Labourers under the fourth respondent a contractor employed by the P. W. D. for construction of a road, having met with fatal accident on 24th March, 1973, a report to that effect was lodged by the Executive Engineer (R& B) Batote Division with the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Doda. Commissioner under the workmens Compensation Act, 1923 (hereinafter the Act) here the first respondent, on 4th Sept, 1973, who pursuant thereto issued notices to the legal representatives of the deceased labourers. Two separate applications i.e. one by the second respondent alleging to be the father of Shamas-ud-Din, and the other by the third respondent alleging to be the mother of Ghulam Rasool, each claiming a sum of Rs. 7000/- as compensation came to be filed before the first respondent The first respondent disposed of these applications by a common order, awarding a total sum of Rs. 11,000/- i.e. Rs. 7,000/- on account of compensation Rs 3,500/- on account of penalty and Rs. 500/- on account of costs in favour of each claimant, to be paid by the appellant and the fourth respondent in equal shares as the principal empl