In Brief
A daughter died in a motor accident on 2 February 1977. Her parents filed a compensation claim 28 years later on 23 February 2005 under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Although the Act no longer prescribes a limitation period for filing such claims, the Supreme Court held that claimants must approach the Tribunal within a reasonable time. A delay of 28 years cannot be considered reasonable even in the absence of a statutory limitation. The Court emphasized that such stale claims become 'dead claims' and should not be entertained, regardless of whether a limitation period is prescribed. The appeal was allowed.
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