- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15053 WP No. 8411 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 13TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM WRIT PETITION NO. 8411 OF 2026 (GM-AC) BETWEEN: THE MANAGER SBI GENERAL INSURANCE CO. LTD., 1ST FLOOR, RUKMINI TOWERS, 3/2, PLATFORM ROAD, OPP. MANTRI MALL, BESIDE APPOLLO HOSPITAL, SHESHADRIPURAM, BENGALURU-560020 REP. ITS MANAGER, ANANDA. M COMPANY REGISTERED UNDER COMPANY ACT-1956. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. B. PRADEEP.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. GNAPATHI S/O LATE MAILAPPA, AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS. R/O. KARAKURCHI VILLAGE, SIRIGERE POST, SHIVAMOGGA TALUK-577201. Digitally signed by VANAMALA N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15053 WP No. 8411 of 2026 2. SADDAM HUSSAIN, S/O. BASHA T, AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS, R/O. THYAVAREKOPPA VILLAGE, SIRIGERE POST, SHIVAMOGGA TALUK, SHIMOGA DIST-577201. 3. SHAIK AHAMMED, S/O. BHASHA SAB, AGED ABOUT 26 YEARS, R/O THYAVAREKOPPA VILLAGE, SIRIGERE POST, SHIVAMOGGA TALUK, SHIMOGA DIST-577201. …RESPONDENTS THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO A. TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT OR DIRECTION TO QUASH THE ORDERS DATED 21-07-2025 PASSED ON IA NO. III BY THE PRL. SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE AND CJM, SHIVAMOGGA IN M.V.C. NO. 848/2023 AT ANNEXURE - A; B. TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS OF ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT OR DIRECTIONS TO ALLOW THE APPLICATION FILED BY THE PETITIONER UNDER ORDER VII RULE 11 READ WITH SECTION 151 OF THE CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE AND SECTION 166 (3) OF THE MV ACT AT ANNEXURE-C ON IA NO. III IN M.V.C. NO. 848/2023 ON THE - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15053 WP No. 8411 of 2026 FILE OF THE HON'BLE PRL. SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE AND CJM, SHIVAMOGGA AND HOLD THAT THE CLAIM PETITION IS NOT MAINTAINABLE. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM ORAL ORDER The captioned writ petition is filed by the Insurance Company calling in question the order passed by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal in M.V.C.No.848/2023, whereby the Tribunal has proceeded with the adjudication of the claim petition notwithstanding the contention of the petitioner that the claim petition itself is barred by limitation, having been instituted beyond the prescribed period of six months. 2. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner– Insurance Company submits that the Tribunal has committed an error in proceeding with the claim petition - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15053 WP No. 8411 of 2026 despite the admitted fact that the claim petition has been filed beyond the statutory period of six months. In support of his contention, learned counsel has placed reliance on a judgment rendered by a Co-ordinate Bench of this Court, wherein the question relating to the maintainability of claim petitions filed beyond the prescribed period and the applicability of Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963, for condonation of delay in such matters has been examined. 3. Having examined the judgment relied upon by the learned counsel for the petitioner, this Court is informed that the very same question, namely, whether a belated claim petition under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 can be entertained by invoking Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963 for condonation of delay beyond the statutory period, is presently under consideration before the Hon’ble Apex Court in Special Leave to Appeal (C) Nos.8412–8413 of 2023. It is also brought to the notice of this Court that in several similar matters, Co-ordinate Benches of this Court, while taking note of the pendency - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15053 WP No. 8411 of 2026 of the aforesaid Special Leave Petitions before the Hon’ble Supreme Court, have disposed of writ petitions with an observation that the pendency of the matter before the Hon'ble Apex Court shall not come in the way of the Tribunal proceeding with the adjudication of the claim petitions. However, the Tribunal has been directed to defer the pronouncement of the final judgment and award until the issue regarding maintainability of such belated claim petitions is authoritatively decided by the Hon’ble Supreme Court. 4. In the light of the consistent view taken by the Co-ordinate Benches of this Court and bearing in mind that the issue concerning the maintainability of claim petitions filed beyond the period of six months is presently sub judice before the Hon’ble Apex Court, this Court deems it appropriate to adopt the same course. Accordingly, the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal is directed to proceed with the adjudication of the claim petition on merits. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15053 WP No. 8411 of 2026 5. However, the Tribunal shall refrain from pronouncing the final judgment and award until the Hon’ble Supreme Court renders its decision in the aforesaid Special Leave Petitions concerning the maintainability of claim petitions filed beyond the prescribed period of limitation. With these observations and directions, the writ petition stands disposed of. Sd/- (SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM) JUDGE SA