Motor Vehicle Act: Analysis And Understanding With Case Laws

Key Takeaways

• The Motor Vehicle Act was not the very first legislation to be incorporated in India to ensure safety with respect to vehicles.
• The Act targets the protection of the citizens from accidents and also tries to insure the families, in case of an unfortunate event.
• The provisions have been very well drafted but the implementation of those need to be done properly.
• The article elaborately discusses some landmark judgments to understand the law and its interpretation and implementation practically.

Introduction

With the onset of modernization and globalization, the world has started moving towards a more technologically advanced system. So why should Indians be left behind? Indians have not only stepped up to match the technological advancements but also made innovations, to keep at par with the world. There were days when people used to walk or use a cart for travelling. Modern techniques have made everything easier.
A car or a two wheeler is the most preferred vehicle for daily transportation. But the road conditions due to rains and the lack of proper attention by the appropriate authorities make it very vulnerable to accidents. Added to that is the rash and negligent driving of people these days. The carelessness of people to the traffic rules is also one reason for many accidents.

There have been numerous cases these days where death has been caused due the negligent driving of a person. Take into consideration the recent case in Delhi where a woman ran over an elderly couple and this led to the death of the couple, when the CCTV footage shows that the accident could have been avoided if the car was being driven carefully. The incident was termed as accident but can we really be sure of that?

History of Legislations on Motor Vehicles

Similar to the all other existing laws on different subject matters, the lawmakers made sure to incorporate legislations with respect to motor vehicles as well. The effectiveness of the same is yet to be discussed.
The British Government in India passed the Fatal Accidents Act in 1885 to provide equal rights to those injured or killed in accidents. The Act established a procedure and the right of selected legal heirs to seek compensation from the negligent party. For a long time, the law served its purpose. Due to the development in automation and the far-reaching damage to life and property that can occur in the event of an accident, it was recognised that an effective law should be enacted to provide relief to accident victims.

By amending the Motor Vehicle Act, provisions for mandatory third-party insurance and the establishment of an adjudication process for claimants have been made, with Sections 93 to 109 relating to third-party insurance and Sections 110(A) to 110(F) relating to the establishment of the Motor Accident Appeals Tribunal and ensured that claimant adjudication procedures were catered to. Originally, the liability of the Insurance Corporation was confined to a particular amount, but after 1982, the responsibility of the Insurance Corporation was made limitless, and the Insurance Industry's protection was weakened in order to ensure that third parties get indemnity awards.

Current Law

The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 was enacted with the intent of simplifying and modifying the laws governing automobile accidents. When a statute is passed to reform or amend the law, the Legislature considers not only the law as it stands now, but also previous laws. A new motor vehicle law was enacted in 1988, with Chapter 10 of the new Motor Vehicles Act providing for interim respite. Chapter 11 governs third-party liability insurance for motor vehicles, whereas Chapter 12 governs the establishment of a Claims forum and the adjudication of claims through litigation and associated proceedings.
In addition, this Act aims to regulate the use of motor vehicles and to compensate those who are injured or killed in a crash, as well as their family members and dependents, if applicable. In the event of a motor vehicle accident litigation, it is generally known that an endeavour is made to place the plaintiffs in a pre-accidental condition. The monetary remedy to be provided must be sufficient to put the wounded or claimants in the same position as if they had not suffered the loss owing to the respondent's error; however, no amount of indemnity can compensate for the loss of limb, agony, or life.
Important Provisions

• Any individual driving a motor vehicle in a public place must have a valid driver’s licence, according to Section 3 of the Act.
• The age restriction for obtaining a driver's licence is set forth in Section 4 of the Act. Once a person reaches the age of 18, a driver’s licence can be issued. A motor bike with an engine capacity of less than 50 cc that may be ridden by anybody over the age of 16 and a transport vehicle that can only be driven by someone over the age of 20 is an exception to this rule.
• Section 19 relates with a licencing authority’s ability to bar someone from holding a licence or revoke one in certain situations.
• Every driver of a motor vehicle is required under Section 119 of the Act to follow traffic signs and any orders given by any police officer engaged in controlling traffic in any public place at the time.
• Section 128 of the Act establishes safety requirements for drivers and pillion riders, stating that a driver of a two-wheeled motorcycle may not transport more than one passenger on the motorcycle in addition to himself.
• Every person driving or riding a motor vehicle in a public place is required to wear protective headgear (i.e., a helmet) under Section 129 of the Act. This clause, however, does not apply to a Sikh who is wearing a turban while driving or riding a motorcycle in a public location. After the Amendment, everyone over the age of four who is driving, riding, or being carried on a motorcycle in a public area must wear protective headgear. As a result of the modification, it is now necessary for everyone driving or riding in the vehicle with the pillion rider to wear a helmet if the pillion rider is over the age of four.
• Section 177 is a general provision for the punishment of offences under which whomsoever violates any provision of the Act, rule, regulation, or notification must be fined Rs. 500 (after the 2019 change) for the first violation and Rs. 1500 for each subsequent infraction (after the 2019 amendment).
• Any person who drives a vehicle in violation of the driving licence provisions of Sections 3 and 4 of the 1988 Act is subject to imprisonment for a term of up to three months or a fine of up to five thousand rupees under Section 181.
• According to Section 184 of the Act, anyone who drives a motor vehicle at a speed or in a manner that is dangerous to the public or causes a sense of alarm or distress to the occupants of the vehicle, other road users, or persons near roads is punishable for the first offence with imprisonment for a term not less than 6 months or a fine not less than Rs.1,000.
• Compulsory third-party insurance is mandated under Chapter 11 and must be purchased by all vehicle owners. Section 146(1) states that no person shall use or permit the operation of a motor vehicle in a public place without a policy of insurance meeting the requirements of this chapter is in effect. The violation of requirements of Section 146 is a crime punishable by up to three months in prison, a fine of up to one thousand rupees, or both (Section 196).
• Section 147 establishes a policy requirement as well as a liability limit. Every vehicle owner is required to purchase insurance to cover any liability he may incur in the event of death or bodily injury to any passenger of a public service vehicle, including the owner of goods or his authorised representative carried in the vehicle, or damage to third-party property, as well as death or bodily injury to any third-party property. According to this clause, the policy does not have to cover the liability for death or injuries caused by employees while on the job, except to the extent that liability under the Workmen's Compensation Act is covered.
• Under Section 149, the insurer was statutorily obligated to pay the judgement and award against the insured for third-party risk.

Landmark Judgments

Lata Wadhwa v, State of Bihar

An accident occurred on March 3, 1989, and many people, including children, were killed in a fire. The Court awarded a large sum of money. Although the Court stated unequivocally that the children who all died were attending an opulent school, had a bright future, and came from upper middle-class families, it cannot be said that the higher compensation awarded was for the hardship of life and the misery and anguish endured as a result of the destruction of life due to financial circumstances.

In cases of children between the ages of 5 and 10, a payment of Rs.1.50 lakhs was awarded towards monetary compensation, while a sum of Rs.50,000/- was paid towards conventional compensation, the Court stated. Compensation of Rs.4.10 lakhs was paid to children aged 10 to 18 years, including standard compensation. The phrase traditional compensation has been applied to non-monetary compensation, payable for anguish and adversity as a result of death in the aforementioned case.

Santoshi Devi v. National Insurance Company Limited

The Supreme Court ruled that deductions should not be made on the spur of the moment. It is also impossible to agree with the Tribunal's conclusion, which was confirmed by the High Court without explanation, that the deceased would have spent 1/3rd of his total earnings, i.e. Rs. 500/-, on personal costs. The Tribunal Officer and the educated Single judge appeared to be completely blind to the harsh facts of reality. It will be hard for a person with a monthly income of Rs.1,500/- to spend 1/3 of his income on himself and leave 2/3 for his five-member family.

State of Haryana v. Jasbir Kaur

The Supreme Court held that it must be kept in mind that the Tribunal created under the Act as specified in Section 168 is required to make an award determining the amount of compensation, which is to be in the true sense, damages, which look to it to be just and fair. It is important to remember that compensation for the loss of limbs or life cannot be measured in golden scales. However, it is important to remember that the compensation is not supposed to be a windfall for the victim.

The compensation must be equitable, according to the law, and it cannot be a windfall; it cannot be a source of profit, but it also cannot be a pittance. The courts and tribunals have a responsibility to examine the numerous variables and calculate the appropriate amount of compensation.
Manjuri Bera v. Oriental Insurance Company

A car accident claimed the life of the dead. Because the deceased had no other legal heirs, a claim petition for compensation was filed. The respondent issued a written declaration claiming that since the claimant was not financially dependent on the deceased, no compensation should be provided.
Because the burden under Section 140 of the Act does not cease because there is no dependency, the deceased party’s father or brothers would be eligible to demand compensation under Section 140 of the Act. Since the claimant is the legal representative of the deceased, he is entitled to compensation.

Rathnashalvan v. State of Maharshtra

The person filing the compensation claim must demonstrate that the responder was negligent. It’s critical to show that he’s to blame for his conduct and that he’s legally responsible for them. Because there is no specific definition of negligence, for the purposes of this proceeding, it would usually mean a breach of obligation caused by an omission that a reasonable man would usually do or be required to do because of the conduct of public interests, or by doing things that a decent or conscientious man would not do.

‘Rashness’, according to the Supreme Court, consists in hazarding a dangerous or wanton act with the awareness that it is such, and that it may cause injury. In such a circumstance, the crime consists in the possibility of committing such an act with recklessness or disregard to the consequences.

Sarla Verma v. Delhi Transport Corporation

Rajinder Prakash died as a result of injuries sustained in a car collision with a Delhi Transport Corporation bus. The deceased was 38 years old at the time of the accident and had an untimely death. He was employed as a scientist by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) with a monthly salary of Rs. 3402/- and additional benefits. His widow, three young children, and parents filed a claim with the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal for Rs.16 lakhs.

The compensation was computed by the Tribunal using the deceased's monthly income of Rs. 3402/-. It deducted one-third for the deceased's personal and living expenditures, resulting in a donation to the family of Rs. 2250 per month.

The Court held that the multiplier must be chosen based on the deceased’s or claimant’s age, whichever is greater, and the reduction for the deceased’s personal costs is frequently determined by the number of dependent family representatives.

Naina Thakur v. Punjab Women’s Welfare Colleges Board

Bodh Raj was riding his motorcycle when he collided with a bus. The bus was insured and driven by respondent No. 2. Bodh Raj was killed in the accident as a result of his injuries. The widow, three little children, and the deceased's mother filed a claim petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, asking Rs. 75,00,000 in compensation for the deceased's death. Respondents filed a response. The Tribunal granted Rs. 15,10,000 in compensation, plus interest at 9% per annum, from the time the petition was filed till it was realised.
The Court then decided that the multiplier must be determined by the deceased's or claimants' age, whichever is greater. As a result, if the parents are the claimants, the age of the parents must be taken into account while determining the multiplier.

K.R. Madhusudhan v. Administrative Officer

It was ruled that there could be a deviation from the rule of thumb. The current case is based on a different set of facts, in which there is clear and unmistakable proof that the deceased was entitled to, and in fact was bound to get a raise in income in the future, a fact that was verified by evidence on record. The current situation falls under the heading of extraordinary circumstances, rather than rule of thumb. As a result, despite the fact that the deceased was over 50 years old, he will be entitled to a raise in salary due to future potential.

Conclusion

After having done an analysis of the provision and case laws, it is apparent that the provisions were made to ensure that the victims of accidents and their families do not have to suffer from the financial losses, even though the loss of a life can never be compensated. The people still tend to misuse it to run away from their liability and take up the exceptions as a shield to protect them. It is important that the implementation of these provisions is done properly as it is not just about insurance, but also for safeguarding and preventing accidents in general.