In Brief
A 20-year-old man died in a motor vehicle accident caused by rash and negligent driving of a heavy transport vehicle. The Tribunal awarded Rs. 3,66,000 compensation; the High Court enhanced it to Rs. 4,55,000. The insurer appealed, arguing the driver lacked a valid licence for heavy transport vehicles, claiming exemption from liability. The Supreme Court upheld the insurer's liability to third parties under Motor Vehicles Act principles: mere absence or invalidity of a driver's licence does not exempt the insurer from liability. The Court enhanced compensation to Rs. 5,36,000 using a multiplier of 18 (reflecting the deceased's age), and directed the insurer to pay while retaining recovery rights against the vehicle owner.
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