JUDGMENT

These two appeals are connected and therefore, I am disposing of these two appeals by a common judgment. These two appeals are filed by the 1st respondent in O.P.(M.V.) No.415/2001 and 416/2001 on the file of the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Neyyattinkara (hereinafter the parties are mentioned in accordance to their rank before the Tribunal).

2. The short facts are like this :

The applicant in O.P.(M.V.) No.415/2001 was a Sales/Marketing executive. The applicant in O.P.(M.V.) No.416/2001 was a student aged 15 years, studying in 10th standard. On 8.10.2000, the injured persons were travelling as passengers in a Maruti Van bearing registration No.KL-01 F 8020 from Rameswaram to Madhurai. When the said Van reached at a place called Chemparayatham village, the bus bearing registration No.TN 63/529 driven by the 2nd respondent in a rash and negligent manner came from the opposite direction and hit against the right side of the Van bearing registration No. KL 01-F 8020 and as a result, the applicants in these claim petitions, sustained serious injuries. Therefore, the claim petitions were filed claiming compensation from the respondents.

3. Heard counsel for the appellant and co