- By Nidhi Giri
- Thu, 03 Jul 2025 02:59 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The insurance companies are not liable to pay compensation to legal heirs of individuals who die as a result of their own rash and negligent driving, said the Supreme Court in a recent ruling. A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and R Mahadevan denied compensation of Rs 80 lakh to the wife, son and parents of a man who died while driving a car at high speed.
Earlier the Karnataka High Court had dismissed the plea filed by the deceased legal heirs claiming compensation. The apex court refused to interfere with the order dated November 23, 2024.
"We are not inclined to interfere with the impugned judgment passed by the high court. Hence, the Special Leave Petition is dismissed," the bench mentioned in an order passed on Wednesday.
ALSO READ: Pune Woman Raped By Man Posing As Delivery Boy; Leaves Behind Chilling Message, Selfie On Her Phone
Background Of The Case
The accident took place on June 18, 2014, when N S Ravisha was driving from Mallasandra village to Arasikere town. The man was accompanied by his father, sister and their children.
As per the findings of the court, Ravisha ignored the traffic instructions and drove the car in a negligent manner and lost control over the vehicle which toppled on the road. Ravisha sustained fatal injuries in the accident.
The high court held that because “the accident occurred due to the rash and negligent driving of the deceased himself and he being self tort-feasor, the legal heirs cannot claim any compensation for his death, otherwise it would amount to a person who committed breach getting compensation for his own wrongs.”
(With Agency Inputs)