1. Present is an appeal preferred by the appellant insurance company under S.173 of Motor Vehicles Act challenging the award dated 20.10.2000 passed by the Additional Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Surajpur in Motor Accident Claim Case No. 21 of 1998.

2. The brief facts leading to the instant appeal are that the father of respondent Nos. 5 to 7 and son of respondent Nos. 2 and 3, Shiv Shankar Minj, was working as a driver of the jeep bearing registration No. CPL 9315 which was owned by the respondent No. 1 and insured by the appellant insurance company. The jeep met with an accident on 16.2.1993 while being driven by Shiv Shankar from Bhatgaon to Jawar - nagar on the instructions of respondent No. 1. As a result of the accident, the driver of the said jeep, namely, Shiv Shankar Minj died. Subsequently, respondent Nos. 2 to 7 filed a claim application under S.166 of Motor Vehicles Act before the Additional Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Surajpur which was registered as Motor Accident Claim Case No. 21 of 1998 claiming compensation of Rs. 22,00,000 from respondent No. 1 and the appellant jointly or separately.

3. During the course of proceedings before the Tribunal, the owner o