Allahabad High Court
SMT. SATTO DEVI AND 7 OTHERSversusH.D.F.C. IRGO GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY LTD AND 2 OTHERS
- Decided
- Bench
- ROHIT RANJAN AGARWAL
Holding
The Court directed the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal to decide the pending claim expeditiously within six months and disposed of the writ petition without addressing the merits.
Summary
The petitioners filed a writ petition seeking a direction to the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Agra to expedite the pending claim (MACT No. 622 of 2022) under Section 166 read with Section 140 of the Motor Vehicles Act. The petitioners argued that the claim had been pending since 2022 without progress. The High Court, noting that no further procedural steps such as counter‑affidavits or notices to private respondents were necessary, disposed of the writ petition at the admission stage. It directed the MACT to hear all parties and decide the claim strictly according to law, preferably within six months of the order. The Court clarified that it had not decided the merits of the underlying insurance dispute, and the writ petition was consequently disposed.
Issues considered
- Whether a High Court can issue a direction to a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal to expedite a pending claim within a specified time‑frame.
- Whether a writ petition seeking such a direction can be disposed of at the admission stage without adjudicating the merits of the underlying dispute.
Legislation cited
- Motor Vehicles Act — s. 140, 166
Subjects
- Motor Accident Claim
- Writ Petition
- Expeditious Disposal
- Motor Accident Claims Tribunal
- Section 166
- Section 140
- High Court
Judgment
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
WRIT - C No. - 38462 of 2026
Smt. Satto Devi And 7 Others
.....Petitioner(s)
Versus
H.D.F.C. Irgo General Insurance Company Ltd And 2
Others
.....Respondent(s)
Counsel for Petitioner(s) : Abhilasha Tiwari, Bhagyashri Maurya,
Kanchan Prajapati, Krishna Mohan Rai
Counsel for Respondent(s) :
Court No. - 9
HON'BLE ROHIT RANJAN AGARWAL, J.
1. This writ petition has been filed with the following prayer:-
"I. Issue necessary direction to the Motor Accident Claim Tribunal Agra for expedite
disposal of the M.A.C. No. 622 of 2022 (Smt. Satto Devi and others Vs. H.D.F.C. Irgo
General Insurance Company Ltd. and others ) under Section 166 read with Section
140 M.V. Act, expeditiously or within the stipulated period as may be fixed by this
Hon'ble Court."
2. It is contended by learned counsel for the petitioner that Motor Accident Claims
Petition is pending consideration since 2022 before Motor Accident Claims Tribunal,
Agra.
3. As no useful purpose would be served in keeping the matter pending, or calling for
counter affidavit or issuing notice to the private respondents, the matter is being
disposed of, at the admission stage, with a direction upon court concerned to decide
the pending M.A.C. No. 622 of 2022 (Smt. Satto Devi and others Vs. H.D.F.C. Irgo
General Insurance Company Ltd. and others) after hearing all the concerned parties,
strictly in accordance with law, expeditiously, preferably within a period of six
months from the date of production of certified copy of this order.
4. With the aforesaid direction, present writ petition stands disposed of.
5. It is made clear that this Court has not adjudicated the case on merits.
September 23, 2026
A. V. Singh
(Rohit Ranjan Agarwal,J.)
Digitally signed by :-
AJAY VIKRAM SINGH
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
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