JUDGMENT :

Muni Lal Verma, J.

The circumstances giving rise to this appeal may be briefly stated as under:

2. Banarsi Dass Sharma was employed as Assistant Registrar, Cooperative Societies, in the State of Haryana and he was posted as such at Sirsa in the month of August, 1969. He was drawing Rs. 560/- per month as his pay and Rs. 146/- per month as dearness allowance. On August 27, 1969, at about 10 a.m., he was proceeding in Government jeep No. HRH-9328 (hereinafter called the jeep) from Fatehabad to Sirsa. The said jeep was driven by Ram Singh. When the jeep was about 12 miles from Sirsa, truck No. HRK-540 (herein after called the truck) which was driven by Som Nath (now Respondent 1) appeared there from the opposite direction. There was collision between the truck and the jeep, as a result of which the jeep was turned turtle and it caught fire, Banarsi Dass Sharma sustained injuries and burns on account of the said accident. Some officials chanced to pass that side and they carried Banarsi Dass Sharma in another jeep to Civil Hospital, Sirsa, but he expired on the way. The afo