Summary: A court in Chennai decided that Reliance General Insurance has to pay money to the family for a road accident that happened in 2017. The case involved a taxi accident where a driver lost his life. The insurance company tried to challenge this decision, but the court stuck to its ruling.
On January 23, 2017, Mr. Manikandan, a driver, was in a taxi traveling from Chennai to Pondicherry. Near Aariyas Hotel on the Tindivanam bypass road, the taxi crashed into a truck. Sadly, Mr. Manikandan, who was in the front seat, died from his injuries.
The family of Mr. Manikandan, including his wife Vayalathal, their young son, and his mother, asked for money as compensation. On July 7, 2022, the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal in Chennai decided in their favor, awarding them ₹22,66,800.
Reliance General Insurance argued that the accident was Mr. Manikandan's fault since he was driving the taxi. They claimed that even if another person was driving, they didn't have the right license, which should free the insurance company from paying.
The insurance company also said that the First Information Report (FIR) was not enough to prove who was at fault and questioned the amount of money decided by the Tribunal.
The court, led by Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and K. Kumaresh Babu, reviewed the case. They decided that the Tribunal was correct in holding Reliance General Insurance responsible for the payment. The court referred to a Supreme Court decision that a driver with a Light Motor Vehicle license can drive certain transport vehicles, dismissing the insurance company's argument about the license issue.
The court found the compensation amount fair and in line with legal rules, confirming the Tribunal's decision.
On January 28, 2026, the court dismissed the appeal by Reliance General Insurance. The original compensation order dated July 7, 2022, was upheld, and the insurance company was directed to pay the amount to Mr. Manikandan's family.
This decision reinforces the accountability of insurance companies in covering accidents and supports the rights of victims' families to receive due compensation.
