- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19151 WP No. 10809 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 7TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM WRIT PETITION NO. 10809 OF 2026 (GM-AC) BETWEEN: THE MANAGER RELIANCE GENERAL INSURANCE CO. LTD., NO. 28, 5TH FLOOR, EAST WING, CENTENARY BUILDING, MG ROAD, BENGLAURU-560 001. REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGER, COMPANY REGISTERED UNDER COMPANY ACT-1956 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. B. PRADEEP.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. PRASANNA KUMAR C S/O. CHIKKA HONNAIAH, AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, R/AT NO 385, SARABANDE PALYA, BANASHANKARI 2ND STAGE, BENGALURU - 560 073 2. BASAPPA. H C S/O. LATE CHANNAVEERAPPA, AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS, R/AT. NO 29, 6TH CROSS, BHUMIKA LAYOUT, Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19151 WP No. 10809 of 2026 HESARAGHATTA MAIN ROAD, BENGALURU- 560 073. …RESPONDENTS THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE ORDERS ON IA NO.1 DATED 12-01-2026 PASSED BY THE COURT OF THE III ADDL. SMALL CAUSES JUDGE, MEMBER MACT AND ACJM, BENGALURU IN M.V.C. NO.360/2025 AT ANNEXURE A., AND ETC. 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 dated 12.01.2026 passed by the III Additional Small Causes Judge, Member MACT & ACJM, Bengaluru in M.V.C. No.360/2025, 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. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19151 WP No. 10809 of 2026 2. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner– Insurance Company submits that the Tribunal has committed an error in proceeding with the claim petition 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) - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19151 WP No. 10809 of 2026 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 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 - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19151 WP No. 10809 of 2026 Motor Accident Claims Tribunal is directed to proceed with the adjudication of the claim petition on merits. 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 GJM List No.: 3 Sl No.: 2