Motor Vehicles Act, 1988

The appellant, Jakir Hussein, a professional driver, suffered grievous injuries to his right arm in a collision caused by the negligent driving of Sabir, rendering him permanently disabled and unable to earn a livelihood as a driver. The claim petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 sought compensati…

The owner of a jeep obtained a motor insurance policy covering six occupants, including the driver. The vehicle, however, was carrying fifteen passengers when it met with an accident, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. Claimants filed compensation claims, and the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal held the insurer …

The deceased, a 53‑year‑old senior assistant of Karnataka Electricity Board, died in a road accident caused by a van owned by the first respondent. The claim petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 was decided by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) with a multiplier of 11, awarding Rs.14,27,496…

The appellant, Ravi, a minor, was severely injured when a truck reversed and struck him, resulting in permanent 50% disability. His father lodged the FIR three months after the accident, citing the child's critical condition and lack of legal awareness as reasons for the delay. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal and th…

The respondents, parents of a deceased pillion rider, filed a claim under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, seeking compensation for death caused by a bus and a scooter. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal dismissed the claim, holding the appellant had not proved negligence. On appeal, the Himachal Pradesh Hi…

The heirs of Genda Bai, who died after being struck by a goods carriage vehicle, claimed compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Oriental Insurance Co. denied liability, contending that the driver, Umesh Gupta, did not hold a valid licence to drive a goods vehicle, thereby breaching the insurance contract. The…

The case involves an alleged murder of Daxaben, where the husband (respondent No.2) was accused of conspiring with co‑accused to kill her for insurance money and stage it as an accident. The investigation produced extensive material, including call records and a charge‑sheet linking the accused to the crime under Secti…

The deceased, a carpenter, was killed when a truck owned by respondent No.1 and driven by respondent No.2 collided with his bicycle. The widow and minor children of the deceased filed a claim for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation but exonerated the …

The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs. 12.53 lakh in compensation for a 1994 accident, directing United India Insurance Co. to pay the amount jointly with the driver, while the insured driver did not appeal. United India Insurance Co. filed a revision petition under Article 227 of the Constitution, believing it…

The Supreme Court, hearing Special Leave Petitions filed by Jai Prakash against National Insurance Co. Ltd. and others, examined systemic problems in motor accident compensation, including victims of hit‑and‑run, uninsured vehicles and gratuitous passengers, the use of goods vehicles for passenger transport, procedural…

The deceased, a 28‑year‑old, died in a motor accident and his wife, minor daughter, father and sister claimed compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 20.64 lakh based on a notional monthly income of Rs 10,000, a 30% uplift for future prospects and a one‑quarter ded…

The deceased, a 32‑year‑old fish‑vendor‑cum‑driver, died in a 2015 road accident caused by a rash driver of a car insured by United India Insurance Co. The claimants (wife, minor son and mother) sought compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, including loss of dependency. The Tribunal awarded Rs 32,39,000, whic…

The appellant, a 20‑year‑old data‑entry operator, lost his right hand in a motor‑vehicle accident and claimed compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal assessed his disability at 89% but reduced it to 45% and used a monthly income of Rs 8,000, omitting a 50% addition for future…

A 17‑year‑old student suffered an 80% permanent disability in a motor accident and became bedridden, requiring lifelong care. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded the parents compensation of Rs.18,75,800 with 7.5% interest. The Andhra Pradesh High Court reduced the award to Rs.12,45,800, relying on the precedent …

The case concerned a motor accident on 11 June 2004 in which the driver’s licence had lapsed at the time of the crash. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs.4,03,650 to the claimant, but the insurer, National Insurance Co., refused to pay, arguing that the driver was not holding a valid licence and therefore th…

A seven‑year‑old child died in a lorry accident on 20‑Nov‑1994. The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 51,500 compensation, which the Karnataka High Court enhanced to Rs 1,52,000 and directed the insurer, Oriental Insurance Co., to indemnify the award. The insurer appealed, contending that the driver was not li…

The Supreme Court examined whether a motor insurer can appeal a Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal award under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 when the insured has not filed an appeal. It held that an insurer’s right of appeal is limited to the statutory defences listed in Section 149(2) and cannot be used to …

The Supreme Court examined the liability of an insurer under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939 and the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for compensation to gratuitous passengers and owners or representatives of goods vehicles. It held that under the 1939 Act, Section 95(1)(b) excludes the insurer from such liability, but the corres…

An accident caused the death of Basudev Majhi involving a vehicle of the B.S.R.T.C. corporation and a police jeep. The Motor Vehicles Claims Tribunal, applying Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, awarded Rs.2,30,400 in compensation and directed the corporation and the Superintendent of Police, Burdwan to each pay ha…

The claimants filed a petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act for compensation after a truck, allegedly without a valid permit, struck a motorcycle on 19‑02‑2013, causing the rider's death. The insurer contended that the vehicle was unpermitted and the driver unlicensed, invoking Section 149(2) to deny lia…

The owner of a bus paid the premium for a motor vehicle insurance policy by cheque, which later bounced. The bus was involved in an accident causing the death of a passenger, and the claimants sought compensation from the insurer, United India Insurance Co. Ltd. The insurer argued that the policy was void due to non-pa…

The appellant, a 21‑year‑old veterinary student and state‑level volleyball player, suffered quadriplegia and 100% disability after being hit by a car, and claimed compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 5,16,000, which the High Court enhanced to Rs 15,25,600 by ass…

The Regional Transport Authority sought to replace a stage‑carriage vehicle under a permit, but the applicant's request to use an older vehicle was rejected under Rule 174(2)(c) of the Kerala Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989. The High Court held the rule ultra‑vires the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, a view the Supreme Court rejec…

The appellant, owner of two vehicles, claimed that United India Insurance Company should indemnify him for the death of his employee, Ramesh Lalmani Yadav, who was a cleaner and died while filling water in the radiator of a second vehicle on the employer's direction. The Labour Court held the owner jointly liable with …

A 33‑year‑old unmarried man was killed by a lorry on a highway. His mother, brother and later the mother’s daughter filed a claim under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 seeking compensation. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) awarded Rs.1,71,600 using a multiplier of 16 based on the deceased’s age and…

The case involved a fatal collision between a Maruti car and a truck, resulting in the death of the car driver. The claimants, dependents of the deceased, sought compensation, but the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal limited the award to 50% of the assessed amount on the basis of alleged contributory negligence by the ca…

The heirs of a deceased motor accident victim filed a claim under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act for fault-based compensation and later filed a separate claim under Section 163A for no‑fault compensation. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation under Section 163A and subsequently permitted the cl…

The deceased, Vijay Singh Dogra, aged 33, died in a road accident caused by a parked truck violating traffic rules. His dependents filed a claim under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for compensation. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal dismissed the claim, attributing negligence to the deceased, but the Hig…

The Supreme Court examined whether permits granted by the Uttar Pradesh State Transport Authority (STA) under Section 68(3)(b) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 were legally valid. The STA had issued 48 permits without any applications, on the same day it purportedly assumed the power to grant permits, and without issuin…

The Supreme Court examined the widespread filing of fraudulent compensation claims under the Motor Vehicles Act and the Workmen's Compensation Act, as investigated by a Special Investigating Team (SIT) in Uttar Pradesh. The SIT reported 1,376 suspicious claims, of which 247 had been examined, leading to 92 criminal cas…

Mantoo Sarkar, a migrant agricultural labourer originally from Pilibhit, was residing and working in Nainital when he was injured in a bus‑truck collision that occurred in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. The truck was insured by Oriental Insurance Company, which maintained a branch at Nainital. Sarkar filed a claim petition b…

The appellant, G. GnanaM, was a passenger in a Metropolitan Transport Corporation bus that collided with a lamp post on 14 June 1995, resulting in a fractured right upper arm and a medically assessed permanent disability of 65%. He claimed Rs 6,00,000 as compensation; the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 1,50,…

The appellant, a 19‑year‑old utensil seller, suffered paraplegia and a 45% permanent disability in a road accident on 18 July 2012. The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 6,13,000 in compensation, which the Karnataka High Court enhanced to Rs 9,26,800 by increasing the notional monthly income to Rs 7,000 and th…

The appellants, parents of a seven‑year‑old child who died after being struck by a motorcycle, filed a claim under Section 163‑A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for compensation. The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal fixed the notional income of the deceased at Rs.15,000 per annum (as per Schedule‑II) and awarded Rs.2,25…

The claimants, the wife and two minor children of a deceased bus passenger, filed a claim petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 against the insurer, driver and owner of the offending truck, seeking compensation for death. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal dismissed the petition on the ground that …

The appellant, a merchant navy seaman earning USD 1,000, suffered a severe vehicular accident on 2 January 1997 resulting in amputation of his right upper limb below the elbow and required five surgeries. He claimed Rs 1.02 crore compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, s.166 for permanent disability, but the M…

The claimant suffered severe injuries in a motor accident in 1999 and filed a claim under Section 166(1)(a) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal awarded only Rs.1,00,000, which the claimant appealed; he died in 2015 of causes unrelated to the accident, and his daughter was substituted as…

The parents of 21‑year‑old Pradeep Tokas filed a claim under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act after he died as a pillion rider in a collision with a stationary truck. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) awarded compensation based on a notional monthly income of Rs 16,246, a multiplier of 15 derived from the …

The appellant Ravi Kapur was charged under IPC sections 279, 337, 338 and 304A for a bus accident that caused multiple deaths and injuries. The trial court acquitted him, holding that the prosecution failed to prove his identity as the driver and that procedural lapses, such as the absence of a test identification para…

The appellant, a 32‑year‑old private contractor, claimed compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, for injuries sustained in a road accident. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs.4,06,400 with 8% interest, considering the nature of injuries and loss of future earnings. The insurer appeale…

The appellant, Kuldeep Singh, was the driver of a truck carrying a marriage party of about fifty people when the vehicle allegedly lost control, rolled over and caused the death of four persons and injuries to many others. He was acquitted by the trial court, but the Himachal Pradesh High Court convicted him under Sect…

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), a State Transport Undertaking (STU), sought to enforce a scheme notified under Sections 99 and 100 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 that gave it exclusive rights on the Angamaly‑Perumbavoor route, a notified route. Private operator Baby P.P. applied to the Regional Tr…

The case concerned a road accident on 19 March 1998 in which a motorcyclist (the deceased) and an injured claimant were allegedly struck by a bus of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC). Claimants filed compensation claims under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Accident Claim…

The case concerned a claim for compensation under Section 147 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for the death of a pillion rider who fell from a scooter. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal and the Kerala High Court held that the insurer, Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd., was liable because the vehicle was insured and the acci…

The appellants, heirs of victims of a tractor‑trailer accident, filed claim petitions under Section 140 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, seeking compensation from the vehicle owner and the insurer. The Claims Tribunal ordered both the owner and the insurer to deposit a fixed sum for each deceased. The insurer appealed,…

Jagbir Singh purchased a tractor with a loan from Central Bank of India. The tractor was initially insured but the insurance was not renewed after May 2005. On 24 September 2007 the uninsured tractor was involved in a fatal accident, and a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation against the driver and owner…

The deceased, K.H.M. Shivamurthaiah, died in a motor vehicle accident, leaving behind a family dependent on his earnings from agriculture, milk‑vending and tractor‑hiring. The Motor Accidents Claim Tribunal (MACT) awarded compensation based on a notional monthly income of Rs.10,000, which the High Court reduced to Rs.8…

The appellant, Uttarnachal Transport Corporation Ltd., was involved in a fatal road accident where a contractor, Bijendra Singh, aged 43, riding a scooter was killed. Under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the claim for enhancement of compensation was filed. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 1,8…

A 43‑year‑old hawker died when his scooter was hit by a bus owned by Uttaranchal Transport Corporation Ltd. The claimants filed a claim under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 1,64,500 with 9% interest. The Uttaranchal High Court enhanced the award to Rs 3,60,000 by assuming a …

The owner of a Maruti van, who was also the insured, died while driving the vehicle after it collided with a tree. The heirs filed a claim under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, seeking compensation from the insurer, Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. The insurer contended that the policy was a third‑party policy …

The deceased, a 35‑year‑old farmer who cultivated 66 acres and owned 12 acres, died in a motor vehicle accident caused by the negligent driving of a truck. The claimants filed a petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Motor Accident Claim Tribunal awarded Rs 6,60,000, which the High Court lat…

The deceased, Gohar Mohammed, was killed when his car was rear‑ended by a bus owned by Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) awarded Rs.31.90 lakh compensation, holding the owner liable because the vehicle was operated without a valid permit and in breach of insurance…

The appellant, a 26‑year‑old motorcyclist, was injured in a collision with a mini‑lorry owned by the second and third respondents and insured by the first respondent. He claimed Rs 40 lakhs compensation, but the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal assessed his permanent disability at 10% and awarded Rs 9 lakhs, later reduce…

The Supreme Court examined the presence of retail liquor shops on national and state highways after the Union Government, through expert bodies and advisories, highlighted the danger of drunken driving on these roads. The petitioners (State of Tamil Nadu and other states) sought a blanket prohibition on granting licenc…

The claimants, parents of a deceased school teacher, filed a petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 seeking compensation after a bus accident that killed their son. The bus driver and the transport undertaking argued that the accident resulted from a sudden mechanical failure of the belt of springs,…

The dispute concerned the validity of inter‑State stage‑carriage permits issued under Section 88 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. A 1968 reciprocal transport agreement between Rajasthan and Haryana fixed a ceiling of 13 permits, which had to be countersigned by the other State. The Rajasthan State Road Transport Corpor…

The appellant, Chandramani Nanda, suffered severe head injuries in a motor vehicle accident on 16 January 2014, resulting in 100% functional disability and loss of earning capacity. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded him ₹20,60,385, which the High Court enhanced to ₹30,99,873 by treating his disability as 100% …

The appellant, Amrit Paul Singh, challenged a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal award that held Tata AIG General Insurance liable to pay compensation for a fatal road accident involving a truck that lacked a valid transport permit. The High Court affirmed the tribunal's decision, and the Supreme Court examined whether the…

The parents of Satendra Kumar Jain, a 30‑year‑old self‑employed bachelor who died in a motor accident, claimed loss of dependency under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 6,24,000, which the Delhi High Court enhanced to Rs 12,61,800 by fixing a monthly income of …

A school bus fell into the Yamuna River, killing 29 children. The parents filed claim petitions under Section 163A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, seeking compensation. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded pecuniary compensation based on the Second Schedule multiplier method but no non‑pecuniary damages. The Del…

A collision between a Tempo Trax and an untraced truck resulted in the death of a passenger. A claim petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 was filed against the driver, owner and insurer of the Tempo, but the Motor Vehicles Accident Claims Tribunal dismissed it, finding no rash or negligent driving…

Brij Mohan, a labourer, was riding on a trolley attached to a tractor that was transporting earth to a brick kiln when the driver negligently lost control, causing Mohan to fall and sustain grievous injuries. The tractor was insured by Oriental Insurance Company only for agricultural use, and the insurer argued that th…

The appellant, Sushilaben Gandhi, claimed compensation under a Motor Vehicles Act claim for the death of her husband, Dr. Alpesh I. Gandhi, who died in a bus accident owned by the Rotary Eye Institute. The insurer, New India Assurance, denied liability invoking a limitation of liability clause that excludes deaths occu…

The appellant, the widow of a scientist who died in a 1988 bus accident, sought higher compensation than awarded by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal and enhanced by the Delhi High Court. The Supreme Court examined whether future prospects of the deceased could be factored into income, whether pay revisions occurring …

The deceased Baljit Singh was killed when his scooter was hit by a bus on 18 March 1996. His family claimed compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act and the Tribunal awarded Rs 7.96 lakh. The insurer argued that the cover note was issued on 15 March 1996 but was to take effect from 19 March 1996, so it …

The husband of the appellant, Constable Jawala Ram, died when a bus owned by Himachal Road Transport Corporation allegedly reversed without sounding a horn, crushing him. The appellant filed a claim petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for compensation. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal held that…

The appellant, a 29‑year‑old professional driver, lost his left leg in a bus accident and claimed compensation under s.166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Tribunal fixed his annual income at Rs 15,000 and a 60% loss of efficiency, awarding Rs 2,75,000. The High Court raised his income…

The appellant, Prakash Chand Daga, sold his Santro car to Saveta Sharma on 11 September 2009 and the vehicle was involved in an accident on 9 October 2009, injuring Rakesh Kumar. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation of Rs.12.47 lakh, holding the driver and the first respondent (the buyer) liable. The…

The appellants, manufacturers and dealers including M/s. Tata Motors Ltd., challenged tax assessments levied by the State of Jharkhand under Section 6 of the Bihar Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1994, which imposed tax on motor‑vehicle chassis while in the possession of the manufacturer or dealer before delivery. The key…

The mother of a 31‑year‑old government employee who died in a bus accident filed a claim for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 12 lakh with 15% interest, using a multiplier based on the deceased's age. The appellant, Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporat…

The appellant Citicorp Maruti Finance Ltd. entered into a hire‑purchase agreement with the respondent for a Maruti Omni. After the respondent defaulted on monthly instalments, the bank repossessed the vehicle, informed police, and later auctioned it to a third party. The respondent filed a complaint before the Consumer…

A scooter insured under a statutory (Act) policy met with an accident, resulting in the death of the pillion rider, a gratuitous passenger. The legal heirs of the deceased filed a claim for compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, against the insurer. The Additional Special Judge (MACT) held that…

The conductor of a bus owned by Mewat Transport Co. died in a 1984 accident, and his widow, children and parents claimed Rs 1.40 lakh compensation. The Motor Vehicles Tribunal awarded Rs 57,600 with 12% interest, limiting the insurer's liability to Rs 50,000. The Punjab and Haryana High Court enhanced the award to Rs 1…

Labourers travelling in trolleys attached to tractors were injured in motor accidents and claimed compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation, rejecting the insurer's claim that it was not liable and that the tractor owner alone was responsible. The insurer a…

Hari Ram died in a motor accident on 22 November 2010 while riding a three‑wheeler driven by Ram Kishan and insured by IFFCO Tokio. His wife, son and mother claimed compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 4,33,000 using a multiplier of 9, based on an alleged age of…

A motor accident on 10 May 2012 resulted in the death of Sanoj Kumar. The victims filed a claim before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, which awarded compensation but absolved the insurer on the ground that the driver, Shivgyani, held a fake licence. The vehicle owner appealed, arguing that the insurer should remain…

The deceased Parvez Khan was killed in a motor accident while driving a truck that was owned by defendant No.1 (Santosh Dental Hospital) and insured by Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. The claimant, the deceased's father, sought compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act. The Workmen's Compensation Commissioner award…

Sapna, a 12‑year‑old girl, was severely injured in a motor‑vehicle accident and left with permanent disability of her left leg. A claim petition under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 was filed; the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 82,569 with 8% interest, which the Uttarakhand High Court enhanced to Rs 2,00,000 a…

A claim petition under Sections 166, 140 and 141 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 was filed by the husband of Kaushalya Devi after their 14‑year‑old son died in a road accident. The driver, Karan Arora, was a minor without a licence; the Tribunal held the driver not liable but held the vehicle owner liable, awarding Rs …

The case involved a fatal road accident in which Sitaram, a government school teacher, was riding a motorcycle that collided with a bus owned by the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation and driven rashly by its driver. The claimants sought compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Motor Accident Cl…

Bipul Gogoi, employed as a driver, disappeared on 9 October 1996 and was later declared a proclaimed offender for absconding with the vehicle. His parents claimed compensation under the Workmen Compensation Act, 1923, asserting his death in the course of employment. The Commissioner and the High Court awarded compensat…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by Oriental Insurance Company Ltd. against a compensation award to the heirs of Devjibhai Rathod, an ONGC assistant who died in a 1994 bus accident. The lower tribunals had calculated loss of dependency by incorporating ONGC's pay revisions that took effect from 1997, thereby inflat…

The wife of the deceased, Dr. Ramani Kanta Bezbaruah, claimed compensation after her husband died in a road accident. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs. 2,50,200 with 6% interest, which the Gauhati High Court enhanced in both compensation and interest (to 8%). The appellant contended that the multiplier for…

M/S I.C.D.S. Ltd., a non‑banking finance company, purchased trucks and leased them to third parties, registering the vehicles in the lessees' names. The company claimed depreciation under Section 32 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 at both the normal and higher rates, arguing it owned the trucks and used them in its leasing…

A 12‑year‑old boy died when a jeep struck him while he was playing outside his house. The mother filed a claim petition under Sections 140, 166 and 171 of the Motor Vehicles Act seeking Rs 2,00,000 compensation. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 1,50,000 and the High Court enhanced it only to the claimed am…

The Supreme Court examined whether a motor insurer can challenge a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal award on the quantum of compensation and whether it may join the vehicle owner in an appeal. The Court held that when an insurer is impleaded as a party‑respondent, it may contest the claim on any ground and may jointly ap…

The Supreme Court was asked to consider whether a holder of a light motor vehicle (LMV) licence may drive a transport vehicle of the same class (unladen weight up to 7,500 kg) without a separate endorsement. The issue arose from the earlier decision in Mukund Dewangan v. Oriental Insurance Co., which had interpreted th…

A. Sridhar, while riding a motorcycle with a pillion rider, met with an accident on 14 January 1998 due to an oil spill on the road, sustaining grievous injuries. He filed a claim under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 seeking Rs. 6,00,000 as compensation, and the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs. 1…

A pillion rider of a motorcycle insured by United India Insurance suffered injuries in an accident caused by an oil spill. A medical doctor certified that the rider had a 75% disability, and the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation of Rs. 3,50,000. The High Court enhanced the compensation to Rs. 4,90,000…

The appellant's son was driving a Maruti Alto that collided with a gas tanker lorry, killing him and five passengers. The police filed an FIR under IPC sections 279 and 304A, but the charges against the son abated due to his death. After a further investigation, the police submitted a final report stating the accident …

The case arose from a fatal road accident in 2008 where a three-wheeler was struck by a truck. The victims' representatives filed claims under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act against the truck's owner, driver, and insurer. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal held the insurer liable, finding that the truck driver p…

The petitioner filed contempt petitions alleging that the respondents, including state transport authorities and the contractor M/s Utsav Safety Systems Pvt. Ltd., failed to implement the High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) scheme in accordance with Supreme Court orders dated 8 December 2011, which prohibit sub‑co…

A Sub‑Inspector aged 36 died in a motor accident, leaving six dependants who claimed compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 14,44,600, which the Delhi High Court enhanced to Rs 14,65,776 by assuming future salary growth, a 30% tax deduction and a 13‑year multiplier. The…

The appellant, U.P. State Road Transport Corporation, challenged the award of Rs.5,12,000 made by a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal to the widows and children of Rajveer Singh, who died in a motor accident on 29‑Nov‑1990. The Tribunal had used a multiplier of 22, based on the deceased’s presumed 22 years of service left…

The deceased Sub‑Inspector of the CRPF was injured in a road accident and claimed compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) initially awarded compensation based on a 61.94% disability assessed by a Medical Board, but on reconsideration a Commissioner appointed by the Tri…

The widowed wife and minor son of Ramappa, who had borrowed a motorbike and died in a solo accident, claimed compensation under Section 163-A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation, which the insurer appealed, arguing that Section 163-A applies only to third‑party claim…

The case arose from a motor accident in which a goods vehicle, insured by National Insurance Co. Ltd., struck and killed Kishan Lal, a vegetable dealer who was travelling in the truck to collect empty boxes. The claimant, Kaushalya Devi, sought compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Tribuna…

The appellant, Rajesh Kumar, was injured in a motor vehicle accident in August 2001 and claimed a 60% total disability under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, relying on a civil surgeon's certificate dated November 2003. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal and the Delhi High Court both assessed his disability…

The Supreme Court examined the implementation of the National Auto Fuel Policy and Bharat Stage‑IV (BS‑IV) emission norms, which required that from 1 April 2017 no vehicle non‑compliant with BS‑IV could be sold or registered in India. Automobile manufacturers intervened, arguing that they could continue to sell their e…

The deceased H.S. Ravi, a 45‑year‑old self‑employed transport businessman, died in a road accident on 14‑12‑2006. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 7,85,000 as compensation. The Karnataka High Court enhanced the award to Rs 14,69,372 by averaging the deceased’s income over two assessment years and applying …

Mahadeo Krishna Naik, a bus driver for Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), was dismissed after a fatal accident in 1996. The Labour Court upheld his dismissal, but the corporation later obtained a Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal (MACT) award that placed sole blame on the lorry driver, a fact it failed…

The respondent, a driver for the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation, caused a fatal accident; he was acquitted in the criminal trial but the corporation dismissed him after departmental proceedings found him guilty of misconduct. The Labour Court reinstated him without back wages, citing the acquittal, but the Hi…

An accident occurred on 15 September 1990 and the claimants filed a petition under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 seeking compensation. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal held that only the vehicle owner (the insured) was liable, rejecting any liability on the insurer. The Madras High Court, relying on the earlier Satpal…

The parents of a 27‑year‑old deceased filed a claim for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claim Tribunal awarded compensation using a multiplier of 18, deducted 50% of the deceased's monthly income for personal expenses, and fixed interest at 6% per annum. The High Court dismissed thei…

The Himachal Pradesh government imposed a special road tax under s.3A(3) of the Himachal Pradesh Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1972 on transport vehicles operating without a valid permit. The High Court struck down this provision, holding it to be a penalty and ultra‑vires the State’s legislative competence under List I…

The deceased government employee died in a road accident caused by a negligent dumper driver, and her major married sons filed a claim for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Tribunal awarded compensation based on the deceased's net salary, applying a 50% deduction for personal expenses and a multiplie…

Ram Prasad Varma, a 55‑year‑old ONGC employee, lost both legs in a motor vehicle accident and claimed compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 19.63 lakhs using the structured formula in the Second Schedule with a multiplier of eight and 12% interest; the High Cour…

The case arose from a motor accident on 21 November 1999 in which a jeep driven by Mohan Singh collided with a truck, resulting in the deaths of three persons. The victims' heirs filed claims for compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation …

The appellants, legal representatives of two deceased motorcyclists, claimed compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, alleging that a canter lorry driven by respondent No.1 caused the fatal accident. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal and the Karnataka High Court dismissed the claims, finding tha…

The appellant's daughter was killed when a tempo, owned and driven by Respondent No.2, ran over her. The vehicle was insured with National Insurance Co., but the insurer claimed the policy was cancelled because the premium cheque was dishonoured, invoking Section 64‑VB of the Insurance Act, 1938. The Motor Accidents Cl…

The deceased, R.K. Srivastava, a salaried employee, died in a road accident and his wife and children claimed "just compensation" under Section 168 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The central issue was the proper computation of the deceased's total income for compensation – whether only basic salary should be consider…

The appellant, a 36‑year‑old advocate, suffered grievous injuries including loss of strength and sensation in all four limbs after a motorbike accident. He claimed compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, and the Tribunal awarded Rs.6,17,500 as loss of future income based on a 50% whole‑body disability…

The deceased employee died in a motor vehicle accident and his family claimed compensation under Section 168 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accidents Claim Tribunal awarded Rs 40,90,000, but the insurer argued that the monthly Rs 50,082 received by the family under the Employees Family Benefit (EFB) Scheme …

The owner of a motor vehicle insured with United India Insurance Co. Ltd. suffered an accident while the vehicle was being driven by a driver whose licence was later found to be forged. The owner filed a complaint under Section 12 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 alleging deficiency in service for the insurer's ref…

The case concerned several accidents in which passengers, often paying a nominal fare, were travelling in lorries classified as goods carriages. Claimants sought compensation from the insurers of the vehicle owners under Section 147 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, arguing that the insurers were liable for death or inj…

The respondents were injured in a motor accident on 18 February 1989 and filed a claim petition for compensation on 2 November 1995. The appellant, New India Assurance Co., argued that the claim was barred by the six‑month limitation prescribed in Section 166(3) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (as read with the repeale…

The appellants claimed compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 after the death of the deceased, who was aged 50 years and 3 months, alleging loss of dependency and future prospects. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal applied a multiplier of 13, considering the deceased in the 40‑50 year age group…

The Supreme Court considered an appeal by the married daughter (appellant No.1) and the mother (appellant No.2) of a woman who died in a road accident. The High Court had reduced the daughter’s compensation to Rs.50,000 and dismissed the mother’s claim, relying on Manjuri Bera. The Court held that a married daughter ca…

The appellant, a foreman, suffered partial loss of eyesight and amputation of a finger in a motor vehicle accident caused by the negligence of a state transport corporation driver. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded him a total compensation of Rs.5,05,053.45, including Rs.1,50,000 for permanent disability. The …

The Supreme Court considered a claim for compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 filed by the parents of Deepak Patodi, a 22‑year‑old brilliant student who died in a road accident. Patodi earned Rs 80,000 per month from a part‑time job in the UK and had a prospective US job offering Rs 18 lakhs p…

The case involved several claimants who suffered injuries in motor vehicle accidents and sought compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923 and the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The insurer argued that compensation should be limited to the percentage of physical disability prescribed by the statutes and that in…

The appellant, National Insurance Co., challenged a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal award of Rs 22.12 lakh compensation for the death of a 41‑year‑old technician, arguing that the Tribunal improperly applied the multiplier from the Second Schedule of the Motor Vehicles Act and exceeded the claimant's stated demand of Rs…

The case arose from a fatal road accident on 1 September 2004 in which a bus collided with a motorcycle, killing five occupants. The claimants filed a petition before the Motor Accident Claim Tribunal, which awarded Rs.3,50,100 in compensation with interest at 6% per annum. The Uttarakhand High Court enhanced the compe…

The case concerned a claim for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 arising from an accident involving an auto‑rickshaw that was insured as a goods‑carrying public carrier. The insurer, New Indian Assurance Co., argued that it should not be liable because the driver, Salim Amadbhai, held only a licence for a…

The appellant, owner of a truck involved in a fatal accident, challenged an interim compensation order of Rs. 50,000 passed by the trial court. The High Court Single Judge allowed the appellant's appeal, prompting the respondents to file a Letters Patent Appeal (LPA) under Clause 10 of the Patna High Court Letters Pate…

A fire broke out on 10 April 2006 at the India Brand Consumer Show in Meerut, killing 65 people and injuring 161. The victims filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking compensation from the event organizers (Mrinal Events and Expositions) and the State of Uttar Pradesh, alleging negligence and violation of the rig…

Pearl Beverages' Porsche, insured with IFFCO Tokio, was destroyed in a high‑speed crash on 22 December 2007. The driver, Aman Bangia, was reported to have smelled of alcohol and was later convicted under IPC 279 for rash driving, but no breath or blood test was conducted. IFFCO Tokio denied the claim invoking an exclus…

The case involved the widow and minor children of Bijender Singh, a 33‑year‑old clerk who died in a motor accident. They claimed compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 8,96,500, which the High Court increased to Rs 10,17,000 after applying the Sarla…

The appellants, private stage‑carriage operators, held permits issued under the 1963 nationalisation scheme (as modified in 1980) and claimed that the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) could not grant permits to other private operators on routes overlapping those nationalised routes. They sought a writ of mandamus to …

The appellant corporation’s bus collided with a motorcyclist, leading to a claim for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claim Tribunal awarded Rs.24,73,252, which the corporation appealed to the Allahabad High Court under Section 173 of the Act. The High Court dismissed the appeal witho…

The appellant, a 46‑year‑old tourist‑taxi driver, suffered fractures to his right arm and leg in a collision with a bus operated by the respondent. He claimed compensation under s.166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, asserting functional disability of 35% that impaired his earning capacity. The Motor Accident Claims Tr…

The U.P. State Road Transport Corporation (UP SRTC) challenged the suspension of its inter‑state bus permit by the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Delhi, alleging that the officer lacked jurisdiction under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Supreme Court examined whether directions issued under Articles 32 a…

The deceased, a driver employed by the appellant, was directed to take a vehicle with passengers to a temple. While at the temple he slipped on the steps of a pond and drowned. His wife claimed compensation under the Workmen Compensation Act, 1923, alleging that the death occurred in the course of and arising out of hi…

A labourer travelling on the mud‑guard of a tractor owned by three brothers was killed when the driver, the son of one owner, lost control of the vehicle. The driver had no licence and the tractor was being used for hire, contrary to the terms of the compulsory insurance policy. The heirs of the deceased filed a claim …

In a motor accident, Sanjiv Kumar Jha died and his heirs obtained a compensation award of Rs. 3,91,500 from the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Bhagalpur. The insurer, New India Assurance Co., appealed, first to a Single Judge of the Patna High Court, which dismissed the appeal as non‑maintainable, and then via a lette…

The Himachal Pradesh Bus Stand Management and Development Authority (HPBSM&DA) obtained a 99‑year lease on forest land that had been diverted for a parking space and a bus stand under Forest (Conservation) Act orders of 1997 and 2001. It then authorised a private contractor to construct a Bus Stand‑cum‑Parking Complex …

Alister Anthony Pareira was convicted for causing the death of seven labourers and grievous injuries to eight others by driving a car rashly and negligently while under the influence of alcohol. The Supreme Court examined whether a person could be tried and convicted under both s.304(Part II) IPC (culpable homicide not…

The heirs of Prem Chand and labourer Nikku Ram filed claim petitions after a truck, owned by Jitender Gupta on the registration but possessed by Salig Ram, met with a fatal accident. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation but held only Salig Ram liable, ignoring the fact that the registration still nam…

The appellant, a child of seven years, suffered grievous injuries and moderate mental retardation in a motor vehicle accident, resulting in 75% disability which the Court treated as 100% for compensation purposes. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs.5,90,750, which the Delhi High Court enhanced by Rs.5,60,000…

The owner of a goods vehicle insured the truck with National Insurance Co. and hired it to transport goods. During the journey the hirer and two of his labourers were killed in an accident. The legal heirs of the deceased filed claims under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal held the insur…

During the 1993 Assembly elections, a Maruti Gypsy owned by Respondent No.3 and insured by National Insurance Co. Ltd. was requisitioned by the Sub‑Divisional Magistrate under the Representation of the People Act. While the magistrate was travelling in the vehicle, it met with an accident that caused the death of a boy…

The State Transport Authority of Bihar issued a temporary stage‑carriage permit for a vehicle to ply from Motihari (Bihar) to Siliguri (West Bengal) without the required counter‑signature of the West Bengal State Transport Authority. The vehicle was seized by the Motor Vehicle Department in Siliguri for lack of a valid…

The legal heirs of a deceased motor‑accident victim claimed compensation from United India Insurance Co. Ltd. The driver and vehicle owner failed to file a written statement or give evidence, leading the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal to draw adverse inference and award Rs. 32.5 lakh. United India Insurance applied und…

The appellants, family members of a homemaker who died in a road accident, claimed compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation based on one‑third of the husband’s income, following Arun Kumar Agrawal’s precedent, while the High Court reduced the award by usin…

The appellant, the Commissioner of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, was sued for injuries suffered by a passenger when a branch from a roadside tree fell on a stationary auto‑rickshaw during heavy rain. The passenger filed a claim under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, seeking compensation, which was initially dismisse…

Sm. Laxmibai was traveling in a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation bus (No. CAF 3590) on 26 February 1989 when a stone caused the bus window glass to break, and a fragment struck her right eye, resulting in 35% visual disability. She filed a claim before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal under the Motor Vehicl…

The deceased was killed when a tractor, driven rashly by its owner, struck him as a pedestrian on a footpath. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal held both the tractor's owner and the insurer jointly and severally liable for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and awarded Rs.4,31,000 plus interest. The insu…

Sri Nagarajappa, a coolie, was injured in a motor accident caused by a negligent bus driver and claimed compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 1,70,200, using a 20% disability figure (based on whole‑body disability) and a multiplier of 11 (age 55). …

Common Cause, a registered society, filed a public‑interest writ petition seeking comprehensive directions to the Union and State governments for licensing, driver training, road infrastructure, ambulance services, expert committees and a new Road Traffic Safety Act to curb road accidents. The Court examined whether su…

The appeal concerned whether a holder of a licence to drive a light motor vehicle (LMV) must obtain a separate endorsement to drive a transport vehicle that falls within the LMV weight class. The Court examined the definitions of "light motor vehicle" and "transport vehicle" under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the effe…

The appellant, an 8‑year‑old boy, was struck by a motorcycle in 2001, sustaining a fractured right leg, permanent disability of 16% and a 1 cm shortening of the limb. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 77,000 as compensation, which the Karnataka High Court enhanced to Rs 1 lakh. The appellant appealed to the…

The claimants, the mother and minor brother of 19‑year‑old Yitesh Sadana, sought compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act after his death in a bus accident caused by driver negligence. The Tribunal and the Delhi High Court awarded loss of dependency using a multiplier of 15, based on the mother’s age, and did not acco…

The Supreme Court examined the widespread misuse of red lights and multi‑toned horns on motor vehicles, which were being employed by a large number of public officials and private citizens beyond the limited class intended by law. The petition, led by senior counsel Harish Salve, raised constitutional concerns that suc…

The State Transport Appellate Tribunal granted permits to certain applicants to operate mini‑buses on specific routes in Punjab. Existing private permit‑holders challenged the grant, and the Punjab and Haryana High Court set aside the tribunal’s order. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the State Government …

A boat operated by Ripple Aqua Sports under a licence from Vadodara Municipal Corporation was overloaded with 38 passengers (capacity 22) and capsized, killing 22. The victims filed a consumer complaint alleging deficiency in service. The State Consumer Commission and the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission…

The deceased was killed in a motor accident when a car collided with his motorcycle; his wife filed a claim under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs.8,90,000. The insurer appealed, and the High Court set aside the award, doubting the claimant's statements and t…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Government of Meghalaya could issue a memorandum under Section 138(2)(b) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 authorising weigh‑bridge installations and fee collection without the rules prescribed by the Act being framed. The Court held that the Constitution (Articles 162 and 166) empo…

The claimant purchased a comprehensive motor insurance policy from New India Assurance Ltd. for his car, which was involved in a fatal accident on 29 February 1992. The insurer denied the claim, alleging that the driver’s driving licence was not valid on the date of the accident because it had expired on 25 October 199…

The deceased, Pramod Kumar, died in a vehicular accident and his dependants filed a claim for compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal (MACT) awarded compensation based on a notional annual income of Rs.15,000, citing lack of concrete evidence of the deceased's…

The Supreme Court examined two motor accident death claims where the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal had applied multipliers based on the age of the deceased to calculate loss‑of‑income compensation under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. In the first case, a 25‑year‑old deceased’s parents (both over 65) wer…

The appellant, a painter, was injured in a bus accident caused by the driver’s negligence, resulting in amputation of his left leg. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 4,08,850 as compensation, which the Karnataka High Court enhanced to Rs 5,10,350. The appellant contended that the award was grossly inadequat…

The petition challenged a Rajasthan High Court order that placed the entire liability for compensation on the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) and exempted the driver and owner of a 'Jugaad' vehicle. The Supreme Court examined whether a 'Jugaad' falls within the definition of "motor vehicle" under Sec…

The vehicle involved in a fatal accident was financed by M/s. Godavari Finance Co. under a hire‑purchase agreement, while the fourth respondent, Ch. Praveen Kumar, was the registered owner and in possession of the vehicle. The claimants filed a compensation claim against the driver, the owner, the insurer and the finan…

The petitioners, parents of individuals who died after receiving COVID‑19 vaccines, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking an independent medical board, protocols for early detection of adverse events and compensation. Similar petitions were filed in the Kerala High Court, which directed the Union to formulate …

The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 8,11,351 with 6% interest to the claimant under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Allahabad High Court, on appeal, directed the U.P. State Road Transport Corporation to deposit the entire award and invest it for payment to the claimant, without providing reasons for this di…

The legal heirs of V. Rajasekaran appealed against a compensation award of Rs.15,12,628 for his death in a motor vehicle accident. The Motor Accident Claim Tribunal had applied a split multiplier—3 up to the superannuation age and 8 thereafter—based on the deceased’s remaining years of service. The High Court affirmed …

Mohan Soni, a cart puller, lost his left leg below the knee in a motor vehicle accident and claimed compensation under section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs.2,03,400, fixing his disability at 50% based on Schedule 1 of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923, and the Hi…

The dependents of two deceased motor‑vehicle accident victims filed claim petitions under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, seeking compensation. The Motor Accident Claim Tribunal awarded compensation based on the deceased's salary certificate, pay slip and testimony of the wife and co‑workers, applying a mu…

The appellant, a scrap dealer, was injured in a bus accident caused by the negligent driving of the respondent. He suffered a permanent disability of 70% including amputation of his right lower limb and claimed compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 15,76,465, which the…

The deceased Aranganathan died in a motor accident and his wife and four daughters claimed compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 59.04 lakh, which the Madras High Court reduced to Rs 33.55 lakh by fixing the deceased's annual income at Rs 2.5 lakh.…

The petitioners claimed compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 after the death of a 48‑year‑old employee who earned Rs.13,331 per month; the Claims Tribunal awarded Rs.9.03 lakh, which the Karnataka High Court enhanced to Rs.11.25 lakh by applying a split‑multiplier and a lower multiplier of 10.…

Mastan, a cleaner employed by the owner of a lorry insured by National Insurance Company Ltd., was injured (45‑50% disability) in a road accident while driving the employer's vehicle. He filed a claim under the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923 and obtained an award of compensation payable by the insurer. The insurer ap…

Shakti Devi, the mother of a 22‑year‑old son who died in a bus‑truck collision, filed a claim under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for compensation. The Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Tribunal fixed the deceased's monthly earnings at Rs 1,000, applied a multiplier of 8 and awarded a net compensation of Rs 3…

The petitioners challenged state government notifications that allowed vehicles to continue carrying excess load after the offence had been compounded under Section 200 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Court examined the provisions of Sections 113, 114, 194 and 200, holding that Section 200 only permits compounding…

The appellant, a pillion rider, was injured in a motor accident on 27 January 2013, sustaining fractures of both forearms and undergoing surgery with plates and screws. A medical disability certificate issued by Dr. N.Y. Joshi recorded a 50% permanent disablement. The Tribunal awarded compensation based on a 25% disabi…

The parents of a deceased driver filed a claim petition under Section 163A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for compensation after a fatal accident in which the driver was also the tortfeasor. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation, but the Karnataka High Court set aside the award, holding that compensa…

The deceased, a small‑scale seller of desi ghee and namkin bhujia, was killed in a road accident in 1992 when a government jeep struck his moped. The appellants, his wife and children, claimed a monthly income of Rs 3,500 and sought compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Clai…

Transporters and tour operators filed a batch of 117 writ petitions under Article 32 challenging the levy of Border Tax/Authorization Fee by several State Governments, alleging that the All India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) Rules, 2023 had abolished such levies. The petitioners claimed double taxation and argued that the…

The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal held that both the owner of a vehicle and the insurer, National Insurance Co. Ltd., were jointly and severally liable to pay Rs.1,24,035 as compensation for a road accident that occurred on 19‑April‑2000. The insurer appealed, contending that the insurance policy was invalid because …

The General Insurance Council filed a writ petition seeking a direction to all State Governments and Union Territories to ensure that police officers comply with Section 158(6) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which obliges them to forward accident reports to the appropriate Claims Tribunal and insurer "as soon as" the…

The appellants, parents of two coolies killed in a motor accident, claimed compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation based on a monthly income of Rs.3,000 per victim, applying multipliers of 13 and 14 and interest at 6% per annum. The insurer and the insure…

The Modern Co‑operative Transport Society Ltd., a private passenger‑transport operator, challenged the Haryana Government's notifications appointing the State Transport Commissioner as Chairman of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), arguing that Section 68(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 bars any person with a f…

The deceased was riding a scooter when a motorcycle driven by a minor, Jatin, collided with it, causing the deceased's death. The claimants obtained a compensation award from the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, which held the owner of the motorcycle liable because the driver was a minor without a licence. The Delhi Hig…

The appellant, a tanker driver, lost his right leg up to the knee in a road accident and claimed compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act, seeking Rs.5 lakh. The Commissioner determined his monthly earnings at Rs.2,000 and held that the loss of the leg resulted in 100% loss of earning capacity as a driver, awa…

The claimant, Kanti Devi, filed a claim before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for the death of her son in a road accident. The insurer, National Insurance Corporation Ltd., contended that the driver of the vehicle did not hold a licence appropriate for the …

In the 2019 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, independent candidate Karikho Kri was elected from Tezu (ST) constituency. Nuney Tayang challenged the election, alleging that Kri failed to disclose three vehicles, a no‑dues certificate for government accommodation, and municipal/property tax liabilities, t…

The case concerned a motor accident in which a bachelor died, and the dependents claimed compensation under Section 140 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The High Court had calculated the multiplier for loss of dependency based on the age of the deceased's parents, leading to a lower compensation amount. The insurer app…

On 15 December 2011 a gas tanker was parked in the middle of a busy highway without indicators, causing a Maruti car to collide with it; the car driver and a passenger died and two others were injured. The claimants filed a claim under s.166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal held th…

In a motor accident on 22 September 2009, Ajit Singh, aged 23, died, and his parents filed a claim for compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal initially applied a multiplier of 15 based on the parents' age, which the High Court reduced to 14, relying on the Ash…

Vijay Kumar Rastogi suffered severe injuries in a bus accident in 2005 and claimed compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation but calculated loss of income only on his net salary of Rs 44,511, ignoring income from bank interest and commission disclosed in his inco…

The deceased, a 21‑year‑old contract worker, was killed in a collision between his motorcycle and a bus operated by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation. The appellants filed a claim under the Motor Vehicles Act for compensation, and the Madras High Court awarded loss of dependency based on the deceased's earning…

The respondents' daughter died in a motor accident on 02‑02‑1977. A claim petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 was filed before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal on 23‑02‑2005, more than 28 years after the accident. The Tribunal entertained the claim, and the High Court upheld it, holding that th…

An auto‑driver died when a lorry collided with his auto‑rickshaw. The widow filed a claim for compensation under s.166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the mother of the deceased also claimed a share. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 3.40 lakh with interest and directed equal division between the widow …

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) applied for stage carriage permits for a town service route from Hindupur Municipal Bus Stand to Kothapalli. The Regional Transport Authority rejected the application, deeming the route "new" and requiring government formulation under Section 68(3)(ca) of the…

The claimants filed claim petitions under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for compensation after a goods commercial vehicle (UP .07‑F‑4885) fell into a ditch, killing three persons. Oriental Insurance, the insurer, contended that the vehicle was being driven in violation of policy terms, the driver lacked a…

The Supreme Court examined whether structural modifications to motor vehicles that alter dimensions or specifications beyond those originally specified by the manufacturer constitute a prohibited "alteration" under section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 as amended by Act 27 of 2000. Several writ petitions challenge…

Manoj Kumar Biswal died in a motor accident on 9 May 2013, leaving behind his wife and two minor sons who claimed compensation. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 30,24,000 for loss of dependency, applying a multiplier of 16 for his age (33) and adding 40% of his income for future prospects as mandated in Pr…

A nine‑year‑old child was killed by a truck insured by New India Assurance. The claimants filed a petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal (MACT) awarded Rs 4,45,000 as compensation, calculating a notional income of Rs 30,000 per annum and applying a multiplier …

The case involved a fatal collision between a truck owned by Hind Samachar Ltd. and a Matador van, resulting in nine deaths and two injuries. The insurer, National Insurance Company Ltd., paid compensation to the victims but sought to recover the amount from the truck's owner, alleging collusion with the driver to use …