NEW DELHI: In a strong message to reckless drivers and stunt performers, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that insurance companies are not liable to pay compensation if a person dies due to their own rash or negligent driving.
A bench comprising Justices P S Narasimha and R Mahadevan dismissed a claim filed by the wife, son, and parents of N S Ravisha, who died in a car crash caused by his own reckless driving. The family had sought ₹80 lakh in compensation from United India Insurance Company.
The court upheld an earlier Karnataka High Court verdict from November 2023, which found that Ravisha was solely responsible for the accident. He was driving at high speed from Mallasandra village to Arasikere on June 18, 2014, when he lost control of his Fiat Linea near Mylanahalli Gate. The vehicle overturned, resulting in fatal injuries.
While his family claimed he was a contractor earning ₹3 lakh a month and argued the crash was due to a tyre burst, both the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal and the High Court rejected the plea. A police chargesheet confirmed the accident was caused by Ravisha’s own rash and negligent driving.
The Supreme Court concurred, stating: “When a claim is made by the legal representatives of the deceased, it must be proven that the deceased was not at fault. In this case, the deceased was a self-tortfeasor. Therefore, his legal heirs cannot claim compensation under the insurance policy.”
