STATE OF MANIPUR Vs. LOURIYAM SANAHANBI DEVI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Motor Accident Claims Case No. 159 of 2014 was filed by the parents (father, since deceased), widow and son of late Louriyam Sanjit Singh, a Police Constable of Ukhrul District Police, before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal at Lamphelpat. The case was thereafter transferred to the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Bishnupur, and renumbered as Motor Accident Claims Case No. 1 of 2016. This claims case was filed under Sec. 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (for brevity, 'the Act of 1988'), seeking compensation of Rs.22,33,480.00 for the death of Louriyam Sanjit Singh in an ambush by underground activists while travelling in a motor vehicle owned by the State.

(2.) Heard Mr. Athouba Khaidem, learned Government Advocate, appearing for the petitioners; and Mr. A. Deni Sharma, learned counsel for the respondents.

(3.) Sec. 166 of the Act of 1988 applies to claims for compensation arising out of accidents involving motor vehicles and in cases of death, where the death is essentially accidental as opposed to intentional. As the police constable admittedly died in an ambush by underground activists, the State would contend that it was not an accidental death and that no claim would lie for compensation under Sec. 166 of the Act of 1988.