BRANCH MANAGER, SBI GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY v. KU. SANDHYA NAG
CR/80/2025 · 2025-04-30
Shri Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal
body2025
DailyLaw.ai
[ 2025 DAILYLAW 15524 (CHH) · dailylaw.ai ]
DailyLaw.ai
[ 2025 DAILYLAW 15524 (CHH) · dailylaw.ai ]
Judgment text
Extracted from the PDF above. The PDF is authoritative.
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2025:CGHC:19720
NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR CR No. 80 of 2025 Branch Manager, SBI General Insurance Company Fourth Floor, Pujari Chamber, Pachpendi Naka, Dhamtari Road, Raipur 492001
... Applicant versus 1 - Ku. Sandhya Nag D/o Samalnath Nag Aged About 20 Years R/o Village Ganjnar, Tehsil Chindgarh, Thana Chindgarh, District- Sukma ( C.G. ). 2 - Hinga Ram Mandavi S/o Kosa Ram Mandavi Aged About 24 Years R/o Udlatarai, Police Thana Chindgarh, District- Sukma (C.G.) (Vehicle Number CG-26-J-0952 Registered Vehicle Driver) 3 - Tonde Oyami S/o Pide Oyami R/o Udlatarai, Police Thana Chindgarh, District- Sukma (C.G.) (Vehicle Number CG-26-J-0952 Registered Vehicle Owner)
... Respondent(s) For Applicant : Mr. K. P. S. Gnadhi, Advocate For Respondent(s) : None Hon'ble Shri Justice
Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal
Order On Board 30 .04.2025
1. Heard on I.A. No. 01/2025 for grant of interim relief as also on admission. Digitally signed by BHOLA NATH KHATAI Date: 2025.05.01 10:38:07 +0530
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2. This Revision has been preferred challenging the order dated 03.03.2025 passed by 3rd Additional Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, South Dantewada (C.G.) in M.A.C.T. No.63/2024, whereby, the application preferred by the applicant/Insurance Company under
Order 7 Rule 11 of CPC read with Section 3 of the Limitation Act has been rejected.
3. In this case, a claim application was filed before the Tribunal by respondent No.1 claiming compensation. The said application was filed beyond the period of six months along with an application under Section 5 of the Limitation Act for condonation of delay. Therefore, the applicant/Insurance Company filed an application under Order 7 Rule 11 of CPC read with Section 3 of the Limitation Act which was rejected by the Tribunal vide impugned order dated 03.03.2025 against which the present revision has been filed.
4.
Learned counsel for the applicant/insurance company submits that the provisions of Section 5 of the Limitation Act are not applicable to the proceedings under the Motor Vehicles Act. As per Section 166 (3) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, there is a limitation of six months for preferring a claim application and there is no provision for condonation of delay or extension of time for filing the Claim application. However, the Tribunal has proceeded with the matter ignoring the delay caused in filing the claim application, therefore, the claim application itself is not maintainable.
5.
Learned counsel further submits that the matter is pending adjudication in the matter of Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Company Limited vs. Shreelakshmi T & Others in Petition(s) in Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s).9152/2023, wherein the Hon'ble Supreme Court has granted stay in favour of the Insurance Company.
6. It is further submitted that the High Court of Kerala has also taken a view in the matter of Akshay Raj vs. Ministry of Law and Legislative Department, 2023 LiveLaw (Ker) 50 that the matter is
3 condonable. However, the said order has also been challenged before the Supreme Court in SLP (Civil) Diary No.23834/2023 which is pending consideration.
7. In the matter of Malrawan vs. Praveen Travels reported in 2023 SCC Online Madras 5467, the Madras High Court has taken a view that in view of the provision contained under Section 159 of the Motor Vehicles Act, once it is incumbent upon the Police to forward the First Accident Report (FAR) and Detailed Accident Report (DAR) to the Claims Tribunal, the said report can also be treated to be a Claim Petition in terms of Section 166 (4) of the Motor Vehicles Act. Therefore, mere pendency of matters before the Supreme Court concerning applicability of the Limitation Act would not be a sufficient ground to interfere in the matter.
8. In the matter of Akshay Raj (supra), the Kerala High Court has also considered the effect of Annexure XIII to Central Motor Vehicles Rules as also the aspect of statutory liability to submit the DAR.
9. Since the issue regarding delay in filing the Claim application under Section 166 (3) of the Motor Vehicles Act and the mandatory requirement of submission of DAR before the Claims Tribunal by the Police has been raised before the Supreme Court which is pending adjudication, the present Revision is disposed of directing the Claims Tribunal not to pass final award in the Claim application pending before it till the aforesaid issues are decided conclusively by the Supreme Court.
10. The Tribunal is also directed to reconsider the claim application and pass a fresh order after adjudication of the issue which is pending before the Hon’ble Supreme Court.
11. Consequently, I.A. No.01/2025 also stands disposed of. Sd/-
(Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal) Judge Khatai