IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH

Reserved on : 12.11.2025

Pronounced on : 23.12.2025

Uploaded on : 24.12.2025

(I) FAO-593-2025 (O&M)

Bakhshish Singh ...Appellant

Versus

Sachin Kumar and others ...Respondents

(II) FAO-2791-2025 (O&M)

United India Insurance Company ...Appellants

Versus

Bakhshish Singh and others ...Respondents

(III) FAO-733-2025 (O&M)

Sapna and others ...Appellants

Versus

Sachin Kumar and another ...Respondents

(IV) FAO-2794-2025 (O&M)

United India Insurance Company ...Appellants

Versus

Sapna and others ...Respondents

(V) FAO-644-2025 (O&M)

Baljinder Singh and others ...Appellants

Versus

Sachin Kumar and another ...Respondents

(VI) FAO-2797-2025 (O&M)

United India Insurance Company ...Appellants Versus Baljinder Singh and others ...Respondents CORAM: HON’BLE MS. JUSTICE HARPREET KAUR JEEWAN Present: Mr. Nikhil Mittal, Advocate, for the appellant(s) in FAO Nos.593, 644 and 733 of 2025 for respondent No.1 in FAO-2791-2025, for respondent Nos.1 to 4 in FAO-2974-2025 and for respondent Nos.1 to 3 in FAO-2797-2025.

Mr. Vikas Mohan Gupta, Advocate, for the appellant-Insurer in FAO-2791, 2794 & 2797-2025 and for the respondent-Insurer in FAO-593, 644 & 733-2025.

Mr. Lupil Gupta, Advocate, and Mr. Amit Verma, Advocate, for the respondent-owner/driver.

HARPREET KAUR JEEWAN, J.

1. The aforesaid appeals shall be decided by this common order since separate Awards passed by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Sri Muktsar Sahib (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Tribunal’)

are arising out of the same accident.

2. As per the facts in brief, on 24.09.2021 at about 4.00 p.m. near Bypass Abohar, Punjab, an accident took place between TATA Ace (Chota Hathi) bearing registration No.PB05-AN-1652 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘mini truck’) and a Maruti Swift Car bearing registration No.PB22-V-1181 (for short, ‘the Car’). Many passengers were travelling in the mini truck and were going from Fatehpur Maniyanwala to Village Nirmalsar, Sri Ganganagar. When they reached near Bypass, Abohar, the car came from the opposite direction and struck against the mini truck. Resultantly, Kuldeep Kaur, Surinder Singh, and Chhinder Kaur died at the spot, whereas many other passengers of the mini truck sustained multiple injuries. FIR, Ex.C2, was registered on the statement of Baljinder Singh against the driver of the car.

2.1 Different claim petitions were filed before the Tribunal seeking compensation on account of the deaths of Kuldeep Kaur, Surinder Singh and Chhinder Kaur, which were decided by the Tribunal by passing separate Awards dated 29.10.2024.

3. Claimant-appellant Bakhshish Singh, husband of the deceased-Kuldeep Kaur, filed claim petition No.26 dated 21.10.2021 against the owner/driver and Insurance Company of the car, whereas, married sons and daughters of the deceased were impleaded as proforma respondents. The Tribunal awarded a sum of Rs.8,90,000/-

compensation along with interest @ 6% per annum.

3.1 Claimant-appellants Sapna and others, being wife and minor daughters, respectively of the deceased-Surinder Singh filed claim petition No.27 dated 21.10.2021 against the owner/driver and Insurance Company of the car. The Tribunal awarded a sum of Rs.21,05,000/- compensation along with interest @ 6% per annum.

3.2 Claimant-appellants Baljinder Singh and others, being sons and daughter, respectively of the deceased-Chhinder Kaur filed claim petition No.29 dated 21.10.2021 against the owner/driver and Insurance Company of the car. The Tribunal awarded a sum of Rs.11,60,000/- compensation along with interest @ 6% per annum.

4. Appeal bearing FAO No.593 of 2025 has been filed by the claimant-Bakhshish Singh seeking modification of the Award dated 29.10.2024, passed in MACT No.26 dated 21.10.2021, by way of enhancement of the compensation awarded by the Tribunal on account of the death of Kuldeep Kaur, whereas, FAO No.2791 of 2025 has been filed by the Insurance Company raising a challenge to the quantum of compensation awarded by the Tribunal.

5. Appeal bear