The Supreme Court has taken note of chronic delays in motor accident compensation matters and issued a set of directions to speed up proceedings before MACT and the High Courts. The bench, comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice N.K. Singh, highlighted that the average pendency before tribunals is about six years and appeals linger for roughly eight years.
Key Developments
- Claimants must attach all relevant documents with the petition, including proof of age (excluding Aadhaar), disability certificates, income proofs, medical bills, and notarised affidavits for attendant charges.
- High Court chief justices are instructed to list pending MACT appeals in order of age, giving priority to cases older than four years.
- The Court may order the creation of additional benches in High Courts to handle the backlog.
- Tribunals are urged to use the summary procedure wherever possible and record reasons if they do not.
- Strict enforcement of document‑submission norms and the summary procedure is mandated to reduce delays.
Important Facts
The analysis of over a hundred Supreme Court‑decided motor accident cases revealed:
- Average pendency at MACT: ~6 years.
- Average pendency of appeals in High Courts: ~8 years.
- In nearly half the cases, High Court pendency exceeded four years.
- Interest accrued during the delay often forms a large part of the final compensation.
The Court also noted a 2011 fire that destroyed many court records, further complicating a case filed in 2004 and decided only at the end of 2024.
Exam Relevance
Understanding this judgment is vital for GS‑2 (Polity) and GS‑3 (Economy) aspirants. It illustrates:
- The functioning and challenges of specialised tribunals like MACT under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
- The role of the Supreme Court in issuing systemic reforms to curb pendency and ensure speedy justice.
- The importance of procedural efficiency, document compliance, and the use of summary procedures for expeditious dispute resolution.
Way Forward
- Tribunals should adopt the summary procedure wherever feasible and document reasons for non‑adoption.
- High Courts must prioritize older MACT appeals and consider expanding benches to reduce backlog.
- Claimants should ensure complete documentation at the filing stage to avoid adjournments.
- Regular monitoring of pendency statistics by the judiciary can help identify bottlenecks early.
- Policy makers may explore digitisation of records to prevent loss due to incidents like the 2011 fire.
These steps aim to deliver "just and fair" compensation promptly, aligning with the spirit of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and upholding the rights of accident victims.