These Civil Miscellaneous Appeals are directed against the award and decree dated 01.04.1999 made in MCOP Nos.1360 of 1996 and 1359 of 1996 on the file of the I Additional District Judge-cum-District and Sessions Judge, Madurai.

2. The appellants in both these appeals are the respondents before the Tribunal. The first respondent in both these appeals is the claimant before the Tribunal.

3. On the fateful day, i.e. on 04.08.1993, the deceased Bhagavathi Devi along with her husband Brij Mohan Dass Maheswari and others were travelling in the van bearing Registration No.TN-59-C-1008 from Madurai to Kodaikanal. The van belongs to one Venugopal who is the second respondent in CMA No.847 of 2001 and seventh respondent in CMA 995 of 2001. The van was insured with the Insurance Company, who is the third respondent in CMA No.847 of 2001 and eighth respondent in CMA 995 of 2001. When the above van bearing Registration NO.TN-59-C-1008 was proceeding in the Madurai-Dindigul Road near Visalakshi Mill Quarters, the bus bearing Registration No.TN-59-9279 came from west to east and dash against the said van. As a result of the accident, the first respondent in both these appeals, Brij Moh