Motor Vehicles Act

Over speeding of official vehicles of Very Important Personalities (VIPs), such as ministers or other public functionaries, piloted by police vehicles without observing speed limit or other traffic regulations is impermissible in law.

A three Judge Bench of the SC in The New India Assurance Company v Somwati, relying on a two bench judgement of the SC in Magma General Insurance Company Limited v Nanu Ram & others, (2018) 18 SCC 130, recognised spousal, parental and filial consortium.

The key judgments in regard to fixation of compensation in motor vehicle accident cases are: Sarla Verma v Delhi Transport Corporation & Anr Reshma Kumari & Ors v Madan Mohan & Anr National Insurance Co. Ltd. v Pranay Sethi & Ors The Pranay Sethi case was heard by a five-judge bench of the SC. The judgement laid down some broad guidelines for assessing the amount of compensation to be paid to the accident victims in areas where there were divergent approaches.

When information of a road accident is received in the Police Station, the Investigation Officer (IO), who investigates the accident, shall inspect the site of the accident, take photographs / videos of the scene of the accident and the vehicles involved in the accident and prepare a site plan drawn scale to scale, indicating the lay out and width etc of the roads or places, the position of the vehicles and persons involved and such other relevant facts.

In motor vehicle compensation claims in which the fault of the driver concerned is not pleaded, such claims are filed under Section 164 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 (MV Act). The issue of negligence, wrongful act, or default of the driver of the concerned vehicle cannot be pleaded in such claims.

In hit and run motor accidental cases Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) has no judication or role under Section 161 Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 (MV Act). Such claims will be dealt with the Claim Enquiry Officer( CEO).

A person injured in a motor vehicle accident can claim two types of damages: one is non-pecuniary damages (general damages) and the other is pecuniary damages (special damages). The non-pecuniary damages (general damages) are the damages which cannot be calculated in terms of money. The Pecuniary damages are those damages which the victim has actually incurred and are capable of being calculated in terms of money.

The victims of motor vehicle accidents are eligible to get compensation, as a relief measure, under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (MV Act). The M V Act lays out provision for establishment of Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal (MACT). MACT is empowered to adjudicate all claims relating to compensation in motor vehicle accidents, involving death, bodily injury or damage to property.

In S. Rajaseekaran v Union of India [(2018) 13 SCC 516] the SC held that all States and Union Territories are expected to implement the National Road Safety Policy with all due earnestness and seriousness. In Suo motu v State of Kerala [2022 (7) KHC 185 (DB)], the HCK has issued similar directions to the authorities in the context of Sabarimala season. The judgement reminds the state government to implement the National Road Safety Policy with due earnestness and seriousness as the Supreme court had said in the above said S. Rajaseekaran judgement.

Police declares talking on Bluetooth as an offence The Section 184 of the Indian Motor Vehicles Act, the amendment of which came into force on 1 September 2019, defines and…