G.S.SINGHVI, J.

1. An important issue which has arisen for determination by this Court in view of the office objection raised to the entertainability of the appeal is whether an appeal filed by a party against an award of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal can be entertained by a Court without compliance of the proviso to S. 173(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (hereinafter referred to as the Act).

2. Feeling aggrieved by the award dated 1-4-1995 passed by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Chandigarh, appellant-Sohan Singh, driver of bus No. HP-20-0601 filed this appeal on 3-7-1995. Registry of this Court raised an objection to the entertainability of the appeal on the ground that the appellant has not deposited Rs. 25,000/- as required by the proviso to S.173(1) of the Act. Learned counsel for the appellant submitted a reply to the said objection by stating that an amount of Rs. 25,000/- has been deposited vide bank draft No. 01/c-135040 dated 7-6-1995 in a connected appeal by the Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation against the same award and, therefore, it was not necessary for the appellant to deposit Rs. 25,000 / -.

3. Shri H. S. Gill, learned senior Advocat