In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of India has declared that insurance companies are not liable to pay compensation to families of individuals who die as a result of their own rash and negligent driving. A bench comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and R. Mahadevan dismissed a petition filed by the family of a man who died in a high-speed car accident in Karnataka, rejecting their claim for ₹80 lakh in compensation. The top court upheld the Karnataka High Court’s previous judgment, stating that the deceased’s own recklessness led to the fatal incident, and thus no compensation can be granted to his legal heirs.
The accident, which occurred on June 18, 2014, involved a man named N.S. Ravisha, who was driving from Mallasandra village to Arasikere town with his family members onboard. Investigations revealed that Ravisha had lost control of the car due to rash and negligent driving, causing the vehicle to topple and leading to his death. The court stressed that since Ravisha himself was the sole cause of the accident by breaching traffic norms, his family could not seek financial benefits under the Motor Vehicles Act. “A person who commits a breach of law cannot be rewarded for his own wrong,” the high court had earlier stated — a stance now reinforced by the apex court.
Legal experts note this decision reinforces the principle of “self-torfeasor,” meaning that a person responsible for their own injury or death due to unlawful conduct cannot expect compensation. This verdict could influence future cases involving claims of motor accident compensations, especially where evidence clearly shows the deceased was at fault. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible driving and the legal consequences that follow negligence on the road.
