IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH

Reserved on: 19.12.2025

Pronounced on: 22.12.2025

Uploaded on: 22.12.2025

1. FAO No . 1754 of 20 19 (O&M)

AMANDEEP KAUR AND OTHERS … APPELLANTS

VERSUS

RAKESH SINGH AND ANOTHER … RESPONDENTS

AND

2 . FAO No. 175 9 of 20 1 9 (O&M)

SUKHWINDER KAUR AND OTHERS … APPELLANTS

VERSUS

RAKESH SINGH AND ANOTHER … RESPONDENTS

AND

3 . FAO No. 17 78 of 20 1 9 (O&M)

DILRAJ KAUR AND ANOTHER … APPELLANTS

VERSUS

RAKESH SINGH AND ANOTHER … RESPONDENTS

AND

4. FAO No. 1 8 17 of 20 1 9 (O&M)

VIKRAM SINGH … APPELLANT

VERSUS

RAKESH SINGH AND ANOTHER … RESPONDENTS

AND

5 . FAO No. 1 9 96 of 20 1 9 (O&M)

ISHWAR SINGH … APPELLANT

VERSUS

RAKESH SINGH AND ANOTHER … RESPONDENTS

AND

6 . FAO No. 2061 of 20 1 9 (O&M)

KARNAIL SINGH … APPELLANT VERSUS RAKESH SINGH AND ANOTHER … RESPONDENTS CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE VIRINDER AGGARWAL Present: Mr.Anil Kumar Gahlawat, Advocate for the Appellants in all appeals.

Mr. Vinod Gupta, Advocate for respondent No.2/Insurance Company.

*****

VIRINDER AGGARWAL, J .

1. These six appeals arise out of a common award dated 24.07.2017 passed by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Karnal, in several claim Petitions. By the impugned award, the learned Tribunal disposed of multiple claim petitions filed under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, awarding compensation to the claimants for deaths and injuries sustained in a motor vehicular accident. Feeling aggrieved by the quantum of compensation awarded, which the appellants contend is inadequate and is not in consonance with settled principles, the claimants have preferred these appeals seeking enhancement of the compensation. Since all appeals stem from the same accident and common award, they are being disposed of by this common judgment.

BACKGROUND FACTS

2. The facts leading to the present appeals, in brief, are that on 17.03.2015, the deceased persons and injured claimants were travelling in a three-wheeler being driven by Vikram Singh, proceeding from Bus Stand, Assandh towards village Kheri Sharfali. When the three-wheeler reached near Bus Stop Chowgana, a car bearing registration No. HR-08-L-6529, driven by respondent No.1, came from the side of Kaithal at a high speed and in a rash and negligent manner and struck against the three-wheeler. As a result of the said accident, Gurnor (minor child), Natha Singh @ Puran Singh and Lakhwinder Kaur sustained fatal injuries and succumbed thereto, whereas Vikram Singh, Ishwar Singh and Karnail Singh suffered multiple injuries, including grievous injuries. An FIR No.112 dated 17.03.2015 under Sections 279, 304-A and 506 IPC was registered at Police Station Assandh, District Karnal against respondent No.1.

3. Consequent upon the accident, numerous claim petitions came to be filed by the legal heirs of the deceased as well as by the injured claimants under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act before the learned Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Karnal, seeking compensation under various heads such as loss of dependency, consortium, medical expenditure, funeral expenses, special diet, attendant charges and loss of income. The learned Tribunal clubbed the petitions, noticing that all claims pertained to the same accident, and proceeded to record common evidence on issues of negligence and liability, while separate evidence was considered regarding age, income, treatment and quantum of compensation in each individual petition.

4. Upon appreciation of the oral and documentary evidence led by the parties, the learned Tribunal returned a categorical finding that the accident in question occurred due to rash and negligent driving of the offending car by respondent No.1. The learned Tribunal relied upon the testimony of injured eye- witnesses, medical evidence and police record to arrive at the said conclusion. The plea of composite negligence raised on behalf of the respondents was specifically rejected by the learned Tribunal, holding that there was no evidence on record to suggest any negligence on the part of the driver