#Section 166 MV Act

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has stayed all final motor accident compensation awards pending the Supreme Court’s decision on whether delays in filing claims under Section 166(3) of the MV Act can be condoned. This interim order affects insurers, claimants, and tribunals nationwide, creating legal uncertainty until the apex court resolves the split in High Court views on limitation and condonation.

MP High Court Gwalior rules that motor accident claims cannot be dismissed solely on the ground of limitation, aligning with the Supreme Court's precedent in ICICI Lombard v. Ayiti Navaneetha. The tribunal must adjudicate claims on merits, ensuring compensation rights for accident victims are not extinguished by procedural delays.

Chhattisgarh High Court rules that elder brothers of an unmarried deceased labourer qualify as 'legal representatives' under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, entitling them to compensation regardless of financial dependency. The judgment expands the definition of legal heirs in motor accident claims, ensuring broader compensation eligibility for non-dependent family members.

Chhattisgarh High Court rules that Motor Accident Claims Tribunals cannot dismiss petitions under Section 166 MV Act solely on limitation grounds while the Supreme Court's final decision on limitation remains pending. All claims may proceed to hearing, but no final award can be passed until the apex court's ruling, ensuring claimants are not prejudiced by procedural delays.