- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2577 WP No. 678/2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO.678/2026 (GM-AC) BETWEEN: THE DIVISIONAL MANAGER HDFC ERGO GENERAL INSURANCE CO. LTD., MAHARAJA COMPLEX, OPPOSITE SUBURB BUS STAND, NAZARBAD, BANGALORE NILGIRI ROAD, DOORA, MYSURU - 570 010 REP. BY ITS SENIOR MANAGER - LEGAL,/ AUTHORISED SIGNATORY GROUND FLOOR ACR TOWER, 32, RESIDENCY ROAD, OPPOSITE TO SBI BANK ASHOK NAGAR, BANGALORE - 560 025. (COMPANY REGISTERED UNDER COMPANIES ACT 2014) …PETITIONER (BY SRI. D VIJAYA KUMAR, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. SRI CHANDAN M S/O. MAHADEVASHETTY, AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS, R/AT. MALLIGAHALLI VILLAGE, B.G. PURA HOBLI, MALAVALLI TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT - 571430 Digitally signed by VANAMALA N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2577 WP No. 678/2026 2. DODDAGULA RAJANNA JAYSHREE D/O. RAJANNA K. MAJOR, DODDAGULA VILLAGE, RATNASANDRA POST, SIRA TALUK, YELIYUR, TUMAKURU DISTRICT - 572137. (OWNER OF FORD CAR BEARING NO.KA-01-MU-4074 …RESPONDENTS THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE ORDER AS PER ANNEXURE-E DATED 02.08.2025 PASSED IN MVC NO.452/2024, ON THE FILE OF THE SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, AT MALAVALLI, ON IA NO. I FILED BY THE CLAIMANT FOR CONDONATION OF DELAY IN FILING THE CLAIM PETITION AND DISMISSING IA NO.IL FILED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY FILED UNDER SEC.166(3) OF AMENDED M.V.ACT. AND ALLOW THE IA NO.II AND TO DISMISS THE CLAIM PETITION ON THE GROUND OF THE PETITION IS BARRED U/SEC.166(3) OF AMENDED M.V. ACT. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2577 WP No. 678/2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD 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.452/2024 on the file of the Senior Civil Judge and JMFC, Malavalli [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 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 02.08.2025, has allowed the application filed by the claimant rejecting the application filed by the petitioner. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2577 WP No. 678/2026 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:2577 WP No. 678/2026 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 SA List No.: 3 Sl No.: 23