The Branch Manager v. Sri K S Shivashankara @ Shivashankaraiah
Motor Vehicles Act – Appeal under S.173(1) by insurer against liability finding
Case brief
What is this about?
Insurance liability; driving licence validity; LMV (Cab) licence including gear motorcycles; Ex.R1 licence produced by RW1; National Insurance Co. Ltd.; MVC No.1106/2016; Senior Civil Judge and JMFC Tiptur; accident 05.06.2015 at I.B. Circle; motorcycles KA-44-J-8506 and KA-44-Q-9542; rash and negligent riding; global compensation Rs.40,000/- with 9% interest; MFA No.3906/2021 (MV-I); Justice Rajesh Rai K; High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru; decided 06.07.2026.
What did the court decide?
Ex.R1, the driving licence produced by RW1, discloses that the claimant held a valid driving licence as on the date of the accident; Column No.1 of the licence shows the holder was authorized to ride/drive LMV (Cab) vehicles, including gear motorcycles. The insurer's contention that the claimant was not duly licensed to ride the motorcycle cannot be accepted.