1. Both the above titled appeals, though against two separate awards
passed in two claim petitions by the same Tribunal, arising out of same vehicular
accident and involving same question of law regarding liability of insurer or the
insured in case of gratuitous passengers having been disabled in the accident, are
proposed to be taken up and disposed of through the medium of this common
judgment.
2. The appellant-Insurance Company, through the medium of the instant
two appeals, has assailed the awards dated 24.12.2016 passed separately by the
Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Rajouri in File No.160/166 titled ‘Pritam
Singh V. Hardesh Kumar & Anr.’ granting compensation to the tune of
Rs.3,23,000/- along with interest and in File No. 126/166 titled ‘Romesh Chander
V. Hardesh Kumar & Anr.’ granting compensation to the tune of Rs.2,16,000/-
alongwith interest in favour of the claimants- Pritam Singh and Romesh Chander.