JUDGMENT 1. (Oral) - The Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC), owner of the vehicle (Bus No.RJ 10 P 715) has filed the present appeal, aggrieved by the award of the learned Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Churu dated 08.06.2000 in Claim Case No.99/99 (Rahisa & Ors. v. Antarsingh & Ors.) , awarding a sum of Rs. 3,36,400/- for the death of Mushtaq, aged 25 years, who was travelling in the said Bus No. RJ 10 P 715, and while disembarking from the said Bus with his brother Sher Mohammad, on account of sudden start of the said Bus by the driver, Antar Singh on the signal given by the Conductor, Badri Prasad, the said passenger Mushtaq got crushed by the rear tyre of the said Bus and suffered fatal injuries and died on his way to hospital. 2. 2. The learned Tribunal gave findings about rash and negligent driving of the RSRTC Bus driver and compensation amount in the following manner:- " 5- bl fopkj fcUnq dks lkfcr djus dk Hkkj izkFkhZx.k ij gSA bl fopkj fcUnq ds ckcr ;g mYys[k djuk mfpr gksxk fd mij of.kZr foi{khx.k la[;k 2 o 3 }kjk izLrqr tckonkok esa iSjk uEcj 8 o 9 ds ckcr rFkk vfrfjDr dFku ds iSjk uEcj 11 esa vafdr IyhfMaxl ds vuqlkj ojoDr nq?kZVuk fookfnr cl dks cgSfl;r pkyd foi{kh la[;k 1 }kjk pykuk Lohdkj fd;k gS rFkk foi{khx.k ds lk{kh cnzhizlkn ,u0,0MCY;w0&1 rFkk vUrj flag ,u0,0MCY;w0&2 us Hkh viuh lk{; esa Lohdkj fd;k gS rFkk e'rd eq'rkd dh fookfnr cl ds Vk;j ds uhps vkdj e'R;q gks tkuk Hkh mij of.kZr IyhfMaxl esa rFkk cnzhizlkn ifjpkyd o vUrj flag pkyd us Lohdkj fd;k gS ijUrq foi{khx.k dh IyhfMaxl rFkk lk{; ;g gS fd nq?kZVuk foi{kh la[;k 1 dh xQyr o ykijokgh ls ugha gqbZA vr% esjs le{k fopkj.kh; iz'u dsoy ek= ;g jg tkrk gS fd D;k nq?kZVuk foi{kh la[;k 1 dh xQyr o ykijokgh ls gksuk lkfcr gksrk gSA bl ckcr eSa ;g ikrk gwa fd izkFkhZ;k jgh'kk ,0MCY;w0&1 us ftjg esa ;g lk{; nh gS fd og nq?kZVukLFky ij ugha Fkh mlus nq?kZVuk gksrs ugha ns[kkA Hkaoj'kkg ,0MCY;w0&2 us lk{; nh gS fd og nq?kZVuk ds le; ekSds ij ekStwn ugha FkkA bl izdkj ;s nksuksa lk{khx.k ?kVuk ds p'enhn lk{khx.k ugha ik;s tkrs gSa rFkk budh lk{; ?kVuk ds ckcr dksbZ lgk;rk ugha djrh gSA 'ksj eksgEen ,0MCY;w0&3 us eq[; c;ku esa lk{; nh gS fd djhc nl ekg igys og rFkk mldk HkkbZ eq'rkd Hkkstjklj ls ljnkj'kgj vk jgs Fks] Hkkstjklj cl LVs.M ls p<+s Fks] cl uEcj 715 esa nksuksa HkkbZ p<+s Fks] tc os ljnkj'kgj esa dfczLrku ds ikl cl vM~Ms ij cl jksd dj mrjus yxs rks og rks mrj x;k vkSj tc mldk HkkbZ eq'rkd cl ds uhps vk x;k vkSj mlds xaHkhj pksVsa yxh vkSj ckn esa [kRe gks x;kA cl ds Mz~kbZoj dk uke vUrj flag Fkk] nq?kZVuk Mz~kbZoj dh xyrh ls gqbZA foi{khx.k ds lk{kh cnzhizlkn ,u0,0MCY;w0&1 us fnukad 13-08-1999 dks xaxkuxj ls ljnkj'kgj cl uEcj 10ih 715 esa ifjpkyd ds in ij jgrs gq, vkuk] Hkkstjklj esa rhu pkj lokfj;ksa dk p<+uk] ljnkj'kgj ls igys dfczLrku o bZVksa ds HkV~Vksa ds ikl bu lokfj;ksa dks mrkjuk] ?kVuk jkf= ds djhc 8&9 cts dh gksuk c;ku fd;k gSA vkxs c;ku fd;k gS fd mlus tks Hkkstjklj ls lokfj;ka p<+h Fkh mudks mrkjus ds fy;s M~zkbZoj dks fcly nh o xkM+h :dokbZ ogka ij vkjke ls nks lokfj;ksa dks mlus uhps mrkjk vkSj lokfj;ksa dks mrkjus ds ckn cl dk QkVd can fd;k vkSj Mz~kbZoj dks xkM+h pykus dk b'kkjk fd;k] xkM+h tSls gh vkxs pyh rks ,d >Vdk lk yxk brus esa uhps mrjh lokfj;ksa ls tks tksj ls vkokt nh fd xkM+h jksdks xkM+h jksdk] pkyd us xkM+h jksdh vkSj cl dk QkVd [kksydj os uhps mrjs o vkSj Hkh lokfj;ka uhps mrjh rks ns[kk fd uhps mrjh lokfj;ksa okyk crk jgk Fkk fd ,d vkneh cl ds fiNys Vk;j ds uhps vk x;k gS] mls ckgj fudkyk vkSj mlh xkM+h esa cSBkdj vLirky yk;s] ?kVukLFky ij jks'kuh dh dksbZ leqfpr O;oLFkk ugha Fkh] ?kVukLFky ij eksM o <+yku gSA nq?kVuk esa cl ds pkyd dh dksbZ xyrh ugha Fkh uk gh cl rst jQ~rkj esa Fkh D;ksafd cl 'kq: gh gqbZ FkhA e'rd mldh cl esa p<+dj vk;k Fkk] nksuksa lokfj;ksa ls mlus fdjk;k fy;k FkkA vUrj flag ,0MCY;w0&2 dh lk{; Hkh blh izdkj dh gSA blh lk{kh us fnukad 13-08-1999 dks xaxkuxj ls ljnkj'kgj cl la[;k vkt ls 10ih 0715 ysdj vkuk] ljnkj'kgj ls igys ifjpkyd }kjk lhVh ekjus ij xkM+h dks jksddj lokfj;ka mrkjuk] ifjpkyd }kjk lhVh ctkus ij xkM+h dks pykuk vkSj ikap N% QhV pyus ij gh vpkud ihNs ls xkM+h jksdus dh vkokt vkuk vkSj lquuk fd ,d vkneh dks pksV vk xbZ gS] mls xkM+h esa cSBkdj vLirky ys tkuk c;ku fd;k gSA eq[; c;ku esa ;g Hkh lk{; nh gS fd ;g vkneh mldh fdlh xyrh ls cl dh ihNs ds Vk;j ls ugha Vdjk;kA cl ds ihNs ds Vk;j ds uhps dSls vk x;k mls irk ughaA ftjg esa lk{; nh gS fd ?kVukLFky ij nks O;fDr mrjs Fks ftuesa ls ,d dh e'R;q gks xbZ FkhA foi{khx.k ds bu nksuksa lkf{k;ksa dh lk{; ls ?kVukLFky ij nks O;fDr;ksa dks cl ls mrjuk ftuesa ls ,d O;fDr dh e'R;q gks tkuk lkfcr gksrk gS rFkk bu nksuksa lkf{k;ksa dh lk{; dks lw{kerk ls i<+us ls ?kVukLFky ij mrjus okyk nwljk O;fDr 'ksjeksgEen ,0MCY;w0&3 e'rd eq'rkd dk HkkbZ gksuk lkfcr gksrk gS ftlus foi{kh la[;k 1 dh xQyr o ykijokgh ls nq?kZVuk dkfjr gksuk c;ku fd;k gSA 'ksjeksgEen ,0MCY;w0&3 dh lk{; dk leFkZu iqfyl rQ~rh'k] pktZ'khV ls gksrk gSA foi{kh la[;k vUrjflag ,0MCY;w0&2 o cnzhizlkn ,0MCY;w0&1 dh lk{; nq?kZVuk esa cl pkyd dh dksbZ xyrh ugha Fkh fopkj ds ckn Lo;a dks cpkus ds fy;s ?kM+h gksuk lkfcr ik;k tkrk gSA bl foospu ds vk/kkj ij eSa ;g ikrk gwa fd 'ksjeksgEen dh lk{; ls rFkk iqfyl rQ~rh'k pktZ'khV ls ;g HkyhHkkafr lkfcr gksrk gS fd ojoDr nq?kZVuk foi{kh la[;k 1 }kjk fookfnr cl dks cgSfl;r pkyd xQyr o ykijokgh ls pykdj nq?kZVuk dkfjr dh xbZ ftlesa eqLrkd dh e'R;q gks xbZA vr% ;g fopkj fcUnq izkFkhZx.k ds i{k esa r; fd;k tkrk gSA " -------- ------------ ----------- ----------- izFke fopkj fcUnq ds ckcr eSa ;g ikrk gwa fd nkos esa e'rd eq'rkd dh vk;q 25 o"kZ vafdr gS rFkk iksLVeksVZe fjiksVZ dh izekf.kr izfrfyfi izn'kZ&9 esa Hkh eq'rkd dh vk;q 25 o"kZ vafdr gSA vr% nq?kZVuk esa e'R;q ds le; eq'rkd dh vk;q 25 lky rS; dh tkrh gSA f}rh; fopkjfcUnq ds ckcr esa ;g ikrk gwa fd pstkjk dk dk;Z Je iz/kku gS] bl pw: tSls {ks= esa m".k tyok;q ds dkj.k dk;Z {kerk esa deh vkus ds dkj.k] rFkk e'rd eq'rkd dh pstkjk ds dk;Z ls fuEu e/;oxhZ; vkfFkZd gSfl;r ls vPNs [kkus ihus ds vHkko ds dkj.k yEch vk;q esa deh gksuk ikrs gq, vk; vftZr fd;s tkus ;ksX; Je iz/kku vk;q 55 lky r; djrk gwaA r'rh; fcUnq ds ckcr eSa ;g ikrk gwa fd nkos esa iSjk uEcj 3 esa e'rd eq'rkd dk O;olk; pstkjk dk crk;k x;k gS] nkos ds iSjk uEcj 5 esa e'rd dh ekfld vk; 4]500@& :i;s vafdr gSA jgh'kk ,0MCY;w0&1 us lk{; nh gS fd mldk ifr pstS ij feL=h dk dke djrk Fkk] mlds ifr dks 150@& :i;s ,d fnu ds feyrs Fks ftlls eghus esa 15]00@& (sic--4,500/) :i;s dek ysrk FkkA ftjg esa lk{; nh gS fd gekjs lekt esa nwljh 'kknh djus dk fjokt gS ysfdu og ugha djuk pkgrh gSA Hkaoj'kkg ,0MCY;w0&2 us lk{; nh gS fd mldk yM+dk eq'rkd feL=h dk dke djrk Fkk ftlls mls 150@& :i;s fnu ds fglkc ls feyrs FksA 'ksjeksgEen ,0MCY;w0&3 dh lk{; gS mldk HkkbZ feL=h dk dke djrk Fkk mldks 150@& :i;s fnu ds fglkc ls feyrs FksA fo}ku odhy izkFkhZx.k us cgl dh gS fd e'rd eq'rkd pstkjs dk dk;Z djds 150@& :i;s izfrfnu vk; djuk lkfcr gksrk gSA fo}ku odhy foi{khx.k la[;k 2 o 3 us cgl dh gS fd pstkjs dk dk;Z dsT;q,y izd'fr dk dk;Z gksrk gS tks ckjg ekg rhl fnu fdlh Hkh pstkjs dks ugha feyrk gS] pstkjs dk dk;Z djus okys dks pw: esa 150@& :i;s izfrfnu dh etnwjh ugha nh tkrh gS] pstkjs dk dk;Z djus okys dks vf/kd ls vf/kd 100@& :i;s izfrfnu dh etnwjh nh tkrh gS] rFkk pstkjs dk dk;Z djus okys O;fDr dks ckjg ekg rhl fnu dk;Z ugha feyrk gS blfy;s dk;Z fnol vkSlr eghus esa 15 fnu ekuh tk ldrh gS ftlds vk/kkj ij ekfld vk; 15]000@& (sic—1,500/-) lkfcr gksrh gSA eSa nksuksa i{kksa ds fo}ku odhyksa ds rdksZa ij fopkj djus ds i'pkr fo}ku odhy jksMost ds rdksZa ls bl lhek rd lger gwa fd pstkjs dk dk;Z djus okys O;fDr dks ckjg ekg rhl fnu etnwjh lkekU; :ih ugha feyrh gS rFkk bldk dk;Z fnol iwjs rhl fnu ugha gksrk gS blfy, bu lHkh rF;ksa ij fopkj djrs gq, eSa e'rd eq'rkd dh ekfld vk; 2]100@& :i;s r; djrk gwaA e'rd eq'rkd vk; dk 1@3 Hkkx Lo;a ij [kpZ djrk Fkk ftls de djus ij 'ks"k vk; 2,100-700=1,400/ & :i;s jg tkrh gS rFkk ;g vk; okf"kZd vk; ds :i esa 1, 400x12=16,800/ & :i;s okf"kZd gksrh gSA prqFkZ fcUnq ds ckcr eSa ;g ikrk gwa fd tujy eSustj dsjyk LVsV jksM V~ksliksVZ dksjiksjs'ku cuke lq"kek Fkksel] ,0lh0ts0 1994 i'"B 1] esa ekuuh; mPPre U;k;ky; }kjk izfrikfnr fof/k ds vuqlj.k esa e'rd eq'rkd dh vk;q 25 lky dks ns[krs gq, e'rd eq'rkd }kjk Hkfo"; esa dh tkus okyh vkfFkZd mUufr rFkk Hkfo"; esa etnwjh dh nj esa fujarj gksus okyk c<+ksrjh rFkk eqnzk dh dz; 'kfDr esa fujarj gksus okyh deh dks/;ku esa j[krs gq, vk; dks nqxuk fd;k x;k gS blfy, e'rd eq'rkd dh okf"kZd vk; 16]800@& :i;s dks nqxuk djus ij ;g 33]600@& :i;s okf"kZd gksrh gSA blh fu.kZ; esa izfrikfnr fof/k ds vuqlkj vk; ds uqdlku ds en esa eYVhiyk;j blh izdkj nsuk U;k;ksfpr gS fd iapkV jkf'k ;fn fdlh jk"V~h;d'r cSad esa tek djk nh tkos rc izkFkhZx.k dks C;kt ds :i esa 33]600@& :i;s okf"kZd vk; izkIr gksrh jgsA ;g mYys[k djuk mfpr gksxk fd eYVhiyk;j Lo;a esa dksbZ fof/k vFkok fof/kd fl)kUr ugha gSA eYVhiyk;j U;k;ksfpr {kfriwfrZ jkf'k fnykus dk ,d eSFkM gSA eYVhiyk;j dk mn~ns'; nq?kZVuk esa e'R;q dks izkIr O;fDr dh e'R;q dks vkfFkZd ykHk esa ifjofrZr djuk ugha gSA vr% eSa 9 lky dks eYVhiyk;j nsuk U;k;ksfpr ikrk gwa rFkk blh izdkj vk; ds uqdlku ds en esa 33,600x9=3,02,400/- :i;s {kfriwfrZ jkf'k fnykuk U;k;ksfpr ikrk gwaA iape fcUnq ds ckcr eSa izkfFkZ;k jgh'kk dks nkEiR; lq[k ls oafpr jgus ds en esa 10]000@& :i;s rFkk izkFkhZ la[;k 2 ftldh vk;q nkos esa 4 o"kZ vafdr gS dh thouHkj ds fy;s Lo;a ds firk ds Lusg] okRlY;] laj{k.k] izse ls oafpr jgus ls 15]000@& :i;s rFkk foi{kh la[;k&3 tks e'rd dk firk gS dks iq= lq[k ls oafpr gjus ds en esa 5]000@& :i;s o e'rd ds 'ko dks nq?kZVukLFky ls izkFkhZ ds edku ys tkus ds en esa 1]000@& :i;s e'rd dks nQukus esa gksus okys O;; esa 3]000@& :i;s {kfriwfrZ jkf'k fnykuk mfpr ikrk gwaA bl izdkj eSa izkFkhZx.k dks dqy 3]36]400@& :i;s {kfriwfrZ jkf'k fnykuk U;k;ksfpr ikrk gwaA iapkV vr% izkFkhZx.k dk nkok foi{khx.k ds f[kykQ Lohdkj fd;k tkdj iapkV bl izdkj ikfjr fd;k tkrk gS fd mij of.kZr eksVj;ku nq?kZVuk esa e'R;q dks izkIr eq'rkd ds ckcr izkFkhZx.k foi{khx.k ls la;qDr :i ls rFkk i'Fkd&i'Fkd :i ls 3]36]400@& :i;s izkIr djus ds vf/kdkjh gSaA rFkk bl iapkV jkf'k ij nkok izLrqr djus dh frfFk ls Hkqxrku gksus dh frfFk rd 12 izfr'kr lkykuk dh nj ls C;kt izkIr djus ds vf/kdkjh gSa ijUrq Hkqxrku 30 fnu esa izkIr ugha gksus ij 15 izfr'kr lkykuk dh nj ls C;kt izkIr djus ds vf/kdkjh gksaxsA nkos esa izkFkhZ;k jgh'kk ds vk;q vafdr ugha gS rFkk e'rd eq'rkd ds iq= dh vk;q 4 o"kZ vafdr gS] c;ku esa izkFkhZ;k jgh'kk us Lo;a dh vk;q 29 o"kZ crkbZ gS blfy, mldh vk;q dks ns[krs gq, izkFkhZx.k ds vkfFkZd Hkfo"; dh lqj{kk dks/;ku esa j[krs gq, ;g vkns'k fn;k tkrk gS fd 60]000@& :i;s izkfFkZ;k ds uke cpr [kkrs esa jk"V~h;d'r cSad esa tek fd;k tkosxk] rFkk 5]000@& :i;s izkFkhZ la[;k 3 ds uke cpr [kkrs esa jk"V~h;d'r cSad esa tek fd;k tkosxk] 2]00]000@& :i;s izkFkhZ la[;k 2 ds uke jk"V~h;d'r cSad esa fe;knh [kkrs 14 lky ds fy;s tek fd;k tkosxk ftldk Hkqxrku izkFkhZ la[;k 2 O;Ld gksus ij izkFkhZ la[;k 2 dks fd;k tk;sxk rFkk 'ks"k iapkV jkf'k ,oa C;kt izkFkhZx.k la[;k 1 o 2 ds la;qDr uke ls tfj;s izkFkhZx.k la[;k 1 o 2 fe;knh [kkrs esa 20 lky dks vof/k ds fy;s tek fd;k tkosxk ftl ij izkFkhZ la[;k 2 dk Hkj.k iks"k.k djus gsrq izkfFkZ;k dks =Sekfld C;kt vnk fd;k tkosxkA izkfFkZ;k dks vfrfjDr/ku dh vko';drk gksus ij bl vf/kdj.k ls vkns'k izkIr dj vfrfjDr/ku izkIr djus dh vf/kdkfj.kh gksxhA Sd/- ,l0lh0 xqIrk U;k;k/kh'k eksVj nq?kZVuk okgu U;k;ky;] pw: " 3. Learned counsel for the appellant-RSRTC Mr.M.P.Goswami for Mr.Anil Bachhawat submitted that it was a case of contributory negligence of the deceased passenger Mushtaq also, who got down from the said Bus, not at the prescribed bus stand, but near Kabristaan on Ganganganagar-Sardarsahar Road, and he did not take adequate care to go away from the said Bus and remained near the bus, and on account of his own negligence, he got injured from the back side rear tyre of the said bus, which the driver of the vehicle could not obviously notice and the driver proceeded to drive the said vehicle only after the signal given by the Conductor, after disembarking of 4-5 passengers from the said bus on that spot, including the brother of the deceased Sher Mohammad, who was examined by the learned Tribunal. He therefore, submitted that it was a case of contributory negligence, and therefore, the compensation deserves to be reduced to the extent of at least 50%, as far as liability of the appellant-RSRTC is concerned. He also submitted that the award of compensation to the extent of Rs. 3,36,400/- is also on the excessive side, since future prospects of the increase in the income have been taken to be at double the rate of his salary. 4. On the other hand, learned counsel for the respondents-claimants, Mr. Mahaveer Pareek supported the impugned award and urged that the accident in question took place at about 08:45 in the night, and there was no adequate road light on that site, and the brother of the deceased, Sher Mohammad got down first and Mushtaq followed him. But as soon as he got down, on account of sudden start of the bus, the deceased Mushtaq could not keep proper distance from the bus and was crushed by the said RSRTC Bus. He therefore, submitted that the entire negligence was on the part of the driver and conductor of the RSRTC Bus, and therefore, the findings of the learned Tribunal deserves to be upheld. About the amount of compensation, learned counsel for the claimant also submitted that the compensation awarded is just and proper, and does not call for any reduction at the instance of the appellant-RSRTC. 5. About the amount of compensation, learned counsel for the claimant also submitted that the compensation awarded is just and proper, and does not call for any reduction at the instance of the appellant-RSRTC. 5. Having heard the learned counsels for the parties and upon perusal of the record, including the site map and the statements of the Conductor Badri Prasad NAW-1, brother of the deceased, Sher Mohammad AW-3 and Driver Antar Singh NAW-2, this Court is satisfied that the findings arrived at by the learned Tribunal do not require any interference by this Court, and it cannot be said that the deceased Mushtaq had contributed negligently in the said accident and fatal injuries suffered by him. The Conductor and Driver of the RSRTC Bus ought to have taken proper care while ensuring that all the passengers, who got down from the said Bus at a particular stop, where the bus was stopped at the request of the passengers and there was no adequate road light at that site. It was their duty to ensure that the passengers had made safe distance from the bus before the bus could be started again for further travel. The site map shows that the width of the road was only 12 feet, and therefore, it was all the more expected of the Driver and the Conductor of the RSRTC Bus to have ensured that the passengers disembarking from the said Bus had adequate land space to make safe distance from the body of the bus. It was dark of the night and there was admittedly, no side light on the body of the bus, which could guide the passengers disembarking from the bus for making sufficient and safe distance from the body of the bus. Therefore, the liability fixed on the RSRTC Bus is found to be justified, and does not call for any interference by this Court in the present appeal. As far as the amount of compensation is concerned, looking to the date of accident in the year 1999 and the meagre amount of salary income estimated by the learned Tribunal, looking to the nature of work of the deceased Mushtaq, who was working as Mistri, a skilled worker, and was earning Rs. 150/- per day and total amount of compensation Rs. 150/- per day and total amount of compensation Rs. 3,36,400/-, this Court is satisfied that the impugned award is just and proper, and does not call for any reduction at the instance of the appellant-RSRTC. 6. In view of the above, this Court is of the considered opinion that the present appeal of the appellant-RSRTC does not have any merit and the same is liable to be dismissed. 7. Accordingly, the present appeal is dismissed. No costs. Copy of this order may be sent to the concerned parties and the learned Tribunal forthwith.Appeal dismissed. *******