( 1. ) THIS appeal by the claimants under Section 110d of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939, is directed against the award dated December 20, 1977, passed by the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Ratlam, in Claim Case No. 7 of 1975.

( 2. ) THE material facts are as follows :

Claimant No. 1, Geetabai, is the widow of the deceased, Khimaji. Claimants No. 2 to 9 are the minor children of the deceased, Khimaji. Khimaji was a resident of village, Istagarkheda, Tehsil Alot District Ratlam. On June 8, 1975, Khimaji had gone to Ratlam to meet his relations. On that day, at 7. 45 p. m. when he was going on the road in front of the Government College, he was dashed against by a tempo bearing No. M. P. O. 3929 which was being driven by respondent No. 1, Husainkhan. Khimaji sustained serious injuries in the accident. He was admitted to the hospital. He succumbed to the injuries caused to him on June 13, 1975, in the hospital. Respondent No. 2, Mohammad Shan, was the registered owner of the said tempo on the date of the accident and it was insured with respondent No. 3, National Insurance Company Ltd. , in the name of Mohammad Shan. The claimants filed an application under Section 110a of the