Supreme Court Restores MACT Award, Overturns HC

Case Name / Appeal: Civil Appeal No. _____ (arising out of SLP(C) No(s). 19503 of 2022)
Court: Supreme Court of India, Civil Appellate Jurisdiction
Order Date: 23 April 2026
Original Tribunal Award: Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) order dated 06‑02‑2017
High Court Order Interfered: High Court of Punjab & Haryana, order dated 23‑03‑2022 (FAO No. 2713/2017)

Appellants: Sushma & Ors.
Respondents: Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Company Ltd & Ors.
Counsel for Appellants: Mr. Dhananjay Garg, AOR Mr. Manzoor Ali Khan Kacho, Adv. Mr. Shashikant Sharma, Adv. Mr. Mahesh Gupta, Adv. Mr. Abhishek Garg, Adv. Mr. Dinesh Kumar Garg, Adv. Mr. Chaudhary Shamsuddin Khan, Adv. Mr. Harsh Kumar Agarwal, Adv. Mr. P.V. Yogeswaran, Adv.
Counsel for Respondents: Mr. Abhishek Gola, Adv. Mr. Viresh B. Saharya, AOR Mr. Anshul Mehral, Adv. Mr. Akshat Agarwal, Adv. Mr. Rishabh Mathur, Adv. Mr. Anantha Narayana M.G., AOR
Bench: Hon'ble Mr. Justice Vikram Nath, Hon'ble Mr. Justice Sandeep Mehta, Hon'ble Mr. Justice Vijay Bishnoi

Whether the High Court was justified in setting aside the MACT award dated 06‑02‑2017.
Claim that the MACT award should remain effective and not be interfered with.

The Supreme Court observed that the award passed by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal ought not to have been interfered with.
Consequently, the impugned High Court order dated 23‑03‑2022 is set aside.
The MACT award dated 06‑02‑2017 is restored in full.

The respondent‑Insurance Company shall pay the balance amount, if any, in terms of the MACT order within a period of eight weeks from the date of this Supreme Court order.

Payment of the balance amount within the stipulated eight‑week period.
An application for substitution of legal heirs of deceased respondents and condonation of delay in filing the substitution application were allowed.
All pending applications, if any, are ordered to stand disposed of.