SC decides to examine Motor Vehicle Act

New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) The Supreme Court today decided to examine issue of non-compliance of the provisions of Section 158(6) of the Motor Vehicle Act by the State and the Union Territories.

The Section makes it compulsory for the officer in-charge of the police station to send copy of the report or the information recorded by him regarding any accident, involving death or bodily injuries to any person, within 30 days to the claims tribunals and insurer for the speedy disposal of the compensation claim.

A vacation bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and D K Jain issued notices to all the States and Union Territories on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by General Insurance Council, National Insurance Company, The New India Assurance Company, The Oriental Insurance Company and The United India Insurance Company, seeking directions to the respondents to strictly comply with the provision of Section 158(6) of the Motor Vehicle Act.

The petitioner contended that the importance of Section 158(6) cannot be understated and its proper compliance would enable insurance companies to insure expeditious settlement of genuine claims and avoid necessity of genuine claimants to file cases in the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT). According to petitioners there has been near breakdown of the adjudicatory system due to pendency of about 1.5 million cases in amenities, High Courts and the Supreme Court and the system has already broken down.

The petitioner also alleged that the police officers hardly comply with provision of section 158 and the section has been totally ignored leading to total chaos and confusion in settling the accident claims.

UNI