In Brief
A bus collided with a motorcycle on 12 August 2008, killing the rider (Kapil Bhargava). His widow and heirs claimed compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act. The Tribunal awarded Rs 31.41 lakh based on Income Tax Returns for Assessment Year 2008-2009. The Delhi High Court reduced this to Rs 16.97 lakh, rejecting the 2008-2009 Return because it was filed after the accident. The Supreme Court held that Income Tax Returns cannot be rejected merely because they were filed after the accident date—what matters is the financial year covered (01.04.2007–31.03.2008), which ended before the accident. The Court restored the Tribunal's award, emphasizing that the Motor Vehicles Act is beneficial welfare legislation.
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