14/01/2020
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Even major sons of the deceased who are married and gainfully employed or earning can claim compensation. Compensation cannot be limited to conventional heads only. Supreme Court 13 January 2020
National Insurance Company Limited vs Birender & Ors
Civil Appeal 242243 of 2020
Decided on 10 January 2020
A.M. Khanwilkar-J
Dinesh Maheshwari-J
Judgment Link:https://main.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2018/47693/47693_2018_7_1501_19449_Judgement_13-Jan-2020.pdf
HELD: 12….. The principal issues which arise for our consideration are as follows:
(i) Whether the major sons of the deceased who are married and gainfully employed or earning, can claim compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (for short, ‘the Act’)?
13. Reverting to the first issue that needs to be answered on the basis of the scheme of the Act. Section 166 of the Act provides for filing of application for compensation by persons mentioned in clauses (a) to (d) of subSection (1) thereof.
14. The legal representatives of the deceased could move application for compensation by virtue of clause (c) of Section 166(1). The major married son who is also earning and not fully dependant on the deceased, would be still covered by the expression “legal representative” of the deceased. This Court in Manjuri Bera (supra) had expounded that liability to pay compensation under the Act does not cease because of absence of dependency of the concerned legal representative. Notably, the expression “legal representative” has not been defined in the Act. In Manjuri Bera (supra), the Court observed thus:
“9. In terms of clause (c) of subsection (1) of Section 166 of the Act in case of death, all or any of the legal representatives of the deceased become entitled to compensation and any such legal representative can file a claim petition. The proviso to said subsection makes the position clear that where all the legal representativ