AR. LAKSHMANAN, J.

All the letters patent appeals are directed against the common judgment of V. Ratnam, J., as he then was, in C.M.A. Nos. 136 to 144 of 1989 dated 29-10-1993. C.R.P. No. 2655 of 1990 is directed against the order of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal / Subordinate Judge, Ramanathapuram at Madurai, in M.A.C.O.P. No. 17 of 1988. All the appeals and the revision have been preferred by the owner of the lorry MDT 8827 involved in the accident. The 1 st respondent in all the matters is the claimant while the 2nd respondent is the insurance company.

2. On 27-3-1985 when some of the claimants and others were travelling in the lorry MDT 8827 with paddy bags between Tirunelveli and Kariyapatti, at about 5-30 a.m., near the garden of one Thanga Pandian on the Virudhunagar Kallakurichi Road, an accident took place in which some persons lost their lives and others sustained injuries. The injured and the legal representatives of the deceased passengers who travelled in the lorry claimed compensation in a sum of Rs.25, 000/-, Rs.25, 000/-, Rs.10, 000/-, Rs.35, 000/-, Rs.25, 000/-, Rs.25, 000/-, Rs.53, 000/-, Rs.25, 000/- and Rs.25, 000/- respectively stating that the l