National Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Master Frewin Seby De Melo - Motor Accident Compensation- Contest By Insurance Company
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Can an Insurance Company can contest a motor accident claim on merits, on quantum of compensation.
Motor Accident Compensation - Motor Vehicles Act 1988- Section 149- Insurance Company when impleaded as a respondent in the claim petition has the right to contest the claim on all available grounds, without any restriction to grounds available under Section 149(2) of 8 the 1988 Act. [Context: The Supreme Court set aside the Bombay High Court’s order and remitted the case to reconsider the quantum of compensation in a motor accident claim where the deceased seaman’s minor son was the claimant. ]
Case Info
Case Details
- Case name: National Insurance Company Ltd. v. Master Frewin Seby De Melo & Ors.
- Neutral citation: Not provided in the text.
- Coram: Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajesh Bindal; Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vijay Bishnoi.
- Judgment date: 05 January 2026.
- Court/Bench: Supreme Court of India, Civil Appellate Jurisdiction.
Caselaws and Citations
- United India Insurance Company Limited v. Shila Datta & Ors., (2011) 10 SCC 509.
- New India Assurance Co. Ltd. v. Krishna Sakharam Baing & Ors., C.A. No. 252 of 2025 Etc.; MANU/SCOR/52757/2022.
- Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Ltd. v. Kamla Sen, C.A. No. 9427 of 2013; MANU/SC/1379/2013.
Statutes/Laws Referred
- Motor Vehicles Act, 1988:
- Section 149(2) (defences available to insurer as noticee).
- Section 170 (permission to contest on all grounds when impleaded as party).
- Chapters XI (Insurance of Motor Vehicles against Third-party Risks) and XII (Claims Tribunals).
- Sections 158(6), 166(4), 168(1) referenced in context of insurer as noticee vs. party.