Judgment :- John Mathew, J. Whether the Mother Superior of a Holy Order of Catholic nuns is the legal representative of a deceased nun of that congregation? This question arises in this appeal filed against an award passed under S.11 OB of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939. The 3rd respondent in O.P.(MV) No. 421/88 before the M.A.C.T. Thodupuzha, viz. the Oriental Insurance Company Ltd., is the appellant. That claim was filed before the M.A.C.T. by the Mother Superior, Sacred Heart Convent, Kanayankavayal Pcruvanthanam, Idukki (hereinafter referred to as the petitioner), for compensation for the death of Rev. Sister Claramma, who was a member of that Holy Order, in a motor traffic accident. The accident occurred on 3-6-1988 when a jeep bearing No. KLI 3276 owned by the 1st respondent before the Tribunal driven by the 2nd respondent in a rash and negligent manner hit the deceased while she was walking along the side of the road. She sustained grievous injuries. Although she was taken to the Medical College Hospital, Kottayam and treated there, she succumbed to her injuries on 5-6-1988. The deceased was aged 48 at the lime of her death and was employed as L.P.S. Assistant in the Corporate Management drawing a monthly emolument of Rs. 1669/-. The petitioner claimed a total compensation of Rs. 1,88,395/- under different heads. 2. Respondents 1 and 2 did not file any written statement. In the written statement filed by the 3rd respondent ( appellant) it was contended that the petitioner is not a legal representative of the deceased and therefore, not entitled to claim compensation. The allegation of negligence of the 2nd respondent was denied and it was contended that the deceased died as a result of an inevitable accident. The petitioner produced Exts. Al to A4 and examined P.Ws.1 and 2. The respondent produced Exts. B1 to B4. After considering the evidence the learned Tribunal awarded a compensation of Rs. 93,400 with interest and proportionate cost. 3. The only point urged at the time of arguments is whether the petitioner is a legal representative of the deceased as envisaged in S.110A of the Motor Vehicles Act. Under S.110A of the M.V. Act where death has resulted from the accident, an application for compensation may be made by all or any of the legal representatives of the deceased! The only point urged at the time of arguments is whether the petitioner is a legal representative of the deceased as envisaged in S.110A of the Motor Vehicles Act. Under S.110A of the M.V. Act where death has resulted from the accident, an application for compensation may be made by all or any of the legal representatives of the deceased! Rule 2(c) of the Kerala Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal Rules, 1977 defines legal representatives as follows: "2(c) "Legal representative" means a person who in law is entitled to inherit the estate of the deceased if he had left any estate at the time of his death, and also includes any legal heir of the deceased and the executor or administrator of the estate of the deceased." The definition of the words 'Legal Representative' in the Code of Civil Procedure is slightly different, which is as follows: "2(1.1) 'Legal representative' means a person who in law represents the estate of a deceased person, and includes any person who intermeddles with the estate of the deceased and where a party sues or is sued in a representative character the person on whom the estate devolves on the death of the party so suing or sued." 4. Therefore, it has to be examined whether the petitioner "is entitled to inherit the estate of the deceased or alternatively whether she represents the estate of a deceased". 5. Learned counsel for the 3rd respondent-appellant relying on S.29(2) of the Indian Succession Act contended that the deceased being an Indian Christian, the provisions of the Indian Succession Act alone has to be examined in order to find out as to who will inherit her assets. It was further contended that the petitioner will not come within any of the categories of heirs mentioned in Ss.41 to 48 of the Succession Act and therefore, the petition itself was not maintainable. 6. The legal effect of a person becoming a nun and joining Holy Order was considered by a Bench of this Court in Mother Superior, Adoration Convent Kttnjircmmnom v. D.E.O., Kottayam -1977 KLT 1954 SC 606 and held as follows: "It is well known that entrance into a religious order generally operates as a civil death. 6. The legal effect of a person becoming a nun and joining Holy Order was considered by a Bench of this Court in Mother Superior, Adoration Convent Kttnjircmmnom v. D.E.O., Kottayam -1977 KLT 1954 SC 606 and held as follows: "It is well known that entrance into a religious order generally operates as a civil death. The man who become an aseeic severs his connection with the members of his natural family and being adopted by his preceptor becomes, so to say, a spiritual son of the latter. The other disciples of 'his Guru are regarded as his brothers, while the co-disciples of his Guru are looked upon as uncles and in this way a spiritual family is established on the analogy of a natural family'. 5. 'Ill is being the general consequence of becoming a monk or nun and joining the Holy Order it has to be taken that with the taking of the perpetual vow the person concerned ceases to have any connection with the members of the natural family. So far as the natural family is concerned t he woman is taken as dead and therefore her parents and other members specified in R.70, Pan 111, K.S.R. are not taken as blood relations thereafter. Consequently even though such category of persons arc alive, the legal effect of a person becoming a nun is that she cannot thereafter be considered as having a father or mother or other relatives mentioned in R.79." 7. The deceased joined the Holy Order of the Sacred Heart Congregation after renouncing her natural family. As soon as she professed the perpectual vow she ceased to be a member of her natural family and became a member of the Holy Order. She had embraced a life of poverty, chastity and obedience. The convent became her family and the Mother Superior became the head of the family as well as her legal representative. All her income by way of her salary and other benefits will devolve on the convent, of which the Mother Superior is the Administrator. Therefore, the Mother Superior being the head of the convent is entitled to claim compensation on account of the death of the deceased. 8. In the additional counter-affidavit filed by the petitioner (1st respondent in the appeal) it is stated that the Holy Order Sacred Heart Congregation is a community leading a canonically approved religious life. Therefore, the Mother Superior being the head of the convent is entitled to claim compensation on account of the death of the deceased. 8. In the additional counter-affidavit filed by the petitioner (1st respondent in the appeal) it is stated that the Holy Order Sacred Heart Congregation is a community leading a canonically approved religious life. Il functions according to the Constitution and a Directory and Rules approved by the Holy See or the General Chapter or competent bodies decided by Canon Law. Arts.168,169 & 170 of the Constitution of the Congregation are extracted in the affidavit. Art.37 of she Constitution of the Sacred Head Congregation is as follows: "37. Whatever a religious receives as gifts, donations or acquires through her labour belongs to the community. We must be obedient to the lawful superiors in the use of material goods, we do not become free from our obligations to observe evangelical poverty, simply on the ground of having secured a permission. Superiors are to meet the needs of the Sisters." For the above reasons we hold that the petitioner is the legal representative of the deceased and was entitled to maintain the claim before the Tribunal. 9. Therefore, even though the deceased continued to be an Indian Christian as defined under S.2(d) of the Succession Act, because of her civil death by becoming a member of the Holy Order the natural heirs mentioned in Ss.41 to 48 of the Succession act will not be her legal heirs. If she had made a will it was to lake effect at once as though she were naturally dead. So also if one of her kinsman dies leaving properties which according to ordinary rules of inheritance would descend to her, she will be overlooked as though she were no longer alive. Entering religious orders resulted in the eyes of the Church in death to the world. From the lime of her en trance into the Holy Order she could not acquire anything and she at led only as a means of receiving for the benefit of the Holy Order. By becoming a member of the Holy Order she becomes a member of the family consisting of the Mother Superior and other members of that Holy Order. From the lime of her en trance into the Holy Order she could not acquire anything and she at led only as a means of receiving for the benefit of the Holy Order. By becoming a member of the Holy Order she becomes a member of the family consisting of the Mother Superior and other members of that Holy Order. Therefore, the contention of the learned counsel for the appellant that in view of S.29(2) of the Indian Succession Act, Ss.41 to 48 of the said Act should apply in this case also, cannot be accepted. 10. It may be observed that none of the natural heirs of the deceased nun have come forward claiming compensation. In so far as the appellant has admitted the policy, there arc no valid grounds to deny to the petitioner the compensation payable on account of the death of the deceased. The learned Tribunal has rightly assessed the compensation after taking into account the monthly salary of the deceased, her age at the time of death and other relevant factors. The quantum of compensation is not challenged in this appeal. 11. Accordingly the appeal is dismissed with costs. The appellant is directed to pay the compensation amount to the petitioner (1st respondent in the appeal ) by drawing a cheque for the award amount in the name of the petitioner and producing it before the M.A.C.T., Thodupuzha on or before 31-5-1994 for handing it over to the petitioner.