- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10226 WP No. 17322 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO. 17322 OF 2025 (GM-AC) BETWEEN: THE MANAGER ICICI LOMBARD GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY LTD., II FLOOR, SVR COMPLEX, HOSUR MAIN ROAD, BANGALORE-560068. NOW REP. BY THE ICICI LOMBARD GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY LTD., NO.121, THE ESTATE BUILDING, 9TH FLOOR, DICKENSON ROAD, M.G. ROAD, BANGALORE-560001 REP. BY ITS LEGAL MANAGER COMPANY IS REGISTERED UNDER COMPANY ACT 1956. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. B.PRADEEP., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. GOPAL H. S. S/O. LATE SANNA SIDDAIAH, AGED ABOUT 68 YEARS R/AT NEAR HIREMAGALUR BRIDGE, HIREMAGALUR, CHIKMAGALUR TOWN 2. JOMON JOSE S/O. JOSE JOSEPH Digitally signed by VANAMALA N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10226 WP No. 17322 of 2025 AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS R/O NO. 5, ASHIRWAD TECHNOCRAFTS, PIPELINE ROAD, JOSE LAYOUT, T. DASARAHALLI, BANGALORE NORTH, BANGALORE - 560 057 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. NAVEEN J N., ADVOCATE FOR R1) THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE ORDER AS PER ANNEXURE-F DATED 22- 11-2024 PASSED BY THE COURT OF THE II ADDITIONAL SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, CHIKKAMAGALURU, ON APPLICATION BEARING NO.01/2023 FILED UNDER SECTION 5 OF LIMITATION ACT AS PER ANNEXURE-B AND APPLICATION FILED UNDER ORDER VII RULE 11 (d) R/W 151 OF CPC AND 166(3) OF MV ACT AS PER ANNEXURE D DATED 22-11- 2024 IN MVC NO. 159/2024 AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10226 WP No. 17322 of 2025 ORAL ORDER This petition is by the Insurer who is called upon to answer a claim under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 [for short, 'the Act'] in the claim petition in MVC No.159/2024 on the file of the II Additional Senior Civil Judge and JMFC, Chikkamagaluru [for short, 'the Tribunal']. If the claimant has filed an application under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963 for condonation of the delay in filing the claim petition, the petitioner has filed an application under Order VII Rule 11[d] of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 read with Section 166[3] of the Act contending that the claim petition is not maintainable because it is filed beyond six months from the date of accident. The Tribunal, by the common impugned order dated 22.11.2024, has allowed the application filed by the claimants rejecting the application filed by the petitioner. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10226 WP No. 17322 of 2025 The question: whether a belated claim petition could be entertained condoning the delay under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963 is pending with the Apex Court in SLP Nos.8412-8413/2023 and similar matters in the writ petition in WP [Civil] No. 166/2024 and connected matters. It remains undisputed that the Apex Court by its interim order dated 16.12.2025 has observed that the pendency of the writ petitions/special leave petitions before it shall not come in the way of the claim petitions being adjudicated by the Tribunals but with the stipulation that judgments shall not be finalized. This Court is of the considered view that with the afore-stipulation, this petition must be disposed of observing that the Tribunal's impugned order will be subject to the outcome in the pending matters before the Apex Court. With this arrangement, the inquiry into the merits of the claim petition will continue, but the Tribunal will refrain from - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10226 WP No. 17322 of 2025 pronouncing its judgment and award so that the decision on the merit of the claim petition otherwise will be subject to the Apex Court’s decision on the afore question. The petition stands disposed of accordingly. SD/- (B M SHYAM PRASAD) JUDGE NV List No.: 4 Sl No.: 63