Branch Manager v. Manendra Pratap Singh Chauhan Alias Mahendra Chauhan
Case brief
What is this about?
Batch of 54 civil revisions (CR) by insurers (Shriram, Cholamandalam, ICICI Lombard, Bajaj Allianz, SBI General, Tata AIG, Oriental, Magma/Megma HDI, Bharti AXA) and vehicle owners against MACT orders condoning delay in time-barred Section 166 MV Act claim petitions; maintainability of claim petitions beyond Section 166(3) limitation; Tribunal's power to condone delay akin to Section 5 Limitation Act 1963; Order 7 Rule 11 CPC rejection; Supreme Court interim directions in ICICI Lombard v. Ayiti Navaneetha (04.11.2025) and Bhagirathi Dash v. Union of India (19.03.2026); no final award restraint; revisions disposed of, interim orders vacated.
What did the court decide?
Batch of civil revisions disposed of by common order. Motor Accident Claims Tribunals to proceed with adjudication of the Section 166 M.V. Act claim petitions, but restrained from passing final awards until the Hon'ble Supreme Court conclusively decides the Section 166(3) limitation/condonation issue; interim orders vacated forthwith subject to the directions; all contentions (limitation, jurisdiction, Limitation Act) kept open; parties free to place subsequent Supreme Court pronouncements before the Tribunals; pending interlocutory applications disposed of; no order as to costs.