JUDGMENT

This Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is filed to set aside the order and decree passed by the learned Chief Judge of Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Chennai passed in M.C.O.P.No.549 of 2015 dated 14.11.2017.

2. The claimants are the appellants. Since one of the vehicles involved in the accident was that of the respondent, they have been added as respondent.

3. On 16.04.2014 at about 14.50 hours, while the deceased namely Shanthi was travelling in an Auto bearing Regn. No.TN-05-H-4435, near South Canal Bank Road, 4th Street, it colluded with a Police Jeep bearing Regn. No.TN-21-G-6000, which was coming from the opposite direction, due to which, the deceased sustained injuries and later, succumbed to the injuries in the hospital. Therefore, the case was registered against the driver of the said Auto and charge sheet was also filed. The claimants who are the daughters and son of the deceased, had filed a claim petition before the Tribunal claiming compensation of Rs.50,00,000/-.

4. The main defence taken by the respondent was that at the time of accident, the driver of the said Auto, in which the deceased was travelling, was in a drunken mood and in an inebriated condition and due to