Section 173 MV Act
Can I appeal a motor vehicle claims tribunal award if I disagree?
Short answer
Yes – you may appeal to the High Court within 90 days, but if you must pay you need to deposit up to Rs 25,000 (or half the award, whichever is less) and the dispute must be at least Rs 1 lakh.
In detail
The law lets anyone who is unhappy with a decision of a Claims Tribunal ask the High Court to look at it. You have to file the appeal within ninety days after the decision is given. If you are the person who has been told to pay money, the High Court will only hear your appeal after you put a security amount with the court – either Rs 25,000 or half of the amount you have been ordered to pay, whichever is lower. The court can allow a later filing if it believes you had a good reason for missing the deadline. However, if the total money in dispute is less than one lakh rupees, you cannot appeal the tribunal’s award at all. So, you can challenge a tribunal award, but you must act quickly, be ready to deposit the required security if you owe money, and the case must involve at least Rs 1 lakh.
Related questions
Who can file a claim for compensation after a motor vehicle accident?
The injured person, the property owner, the deceased’s legal heirs, or an authorized agent can file a claim.
What penalty can I face if I drive against sections 3 or 4?
You may be jailed up to three months, fined up to ₹5,000, or both.
What must I do if police ask me for driver details of my vehicle?
You must give the police the driver’s name, address and licence information that you have or can reasonably discover.
What must I do if I'm the driver after a crash and someone is injured?
You must try to get medical help for the injured and report the accident to police within 24 hours.
Not legal advice. This is general legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and every case turns on its own facts — speak to a lawyer about your situation.