MVA Section 164: Payment of compensation in case of death or grevious hurt, etc
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 · Chapter 11: INSURANCE OF MOTOR VEHICLES AGAINST THIRD PARTY RISKS
¶164. Payment of compensation in case of death or grevious hurt, etc.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in any other law for the time being in force or instrument having the force of law, the owner of the motor vehicle or the authorised insurer shall be liable to pay in the case of death or grievous hurt due to any accident arising out of the use of motor vehicle, a compensation, of a sum of five lakh rupees in case of death or of two and a half lakh rupees in case of grievous hurt to the legal heirs or the victim, as the case may be.
(2) In any claim for compensation under sub-section (1), the claimant shall not be required to plead or establish that the death or grievous hurt in respect of which the claim has been made was due to any wrongful act or neglect or default of the owner of the vehicle or of the vehicle concerned or of any other person.
(3) Where, in respect of death or grievous hurt due to an accident arising out of the use of motor vehicle, compensation has been paid under any other law for the time being in force, such amount of compensation shall be reduced from the amount of compensation payable under this section. [(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (3), ex gratia payments received in respect of death or grievous hurt due to an accident arising out of the use of motor vehicle, shall not be liable to be reduced from the amount of compensation payable under this section.
Explanation.––For the purposes of section 163 and this section, the expression “grievous hurt” shall be as referred to in section 116 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023).]
Study: explanations and related material
Official reference: India Code, Government of India — edition as on 15 August 2026 — source review: 2 October 2026.Recorded edition / snapshot date: 2026-08-15.Banaka reference transcription, not an official or certified edition. General central text: regional amendment blocks are not consolidated. This edition includes Jan Vishwas 2026 changes effective 15 August 2026. Amendment brackets are retained; footnotes and superscript reference numerals are excluded. Consult the complete government PDF for schedules, amendment notes and authoritative wording. State rules and notifications may differ. Hindi guides are original explanations, not a statutory translation.Read the original schedule and amendment notes
This text is for reference, not legal advice. Consult the official source for the authoritative text.
Other sections in this chapter
- 145. Definitions
- 146. Necessity for insurance against third party risks
- 147. Requirements of policies and limits of liability
- 148. Validity of policies of insurance issued in reciprocating countries
- 149. Settlement by insurance company and procedure therefor
- 150. Duty of insurers to satisfy judgments and awards against persons insured in respect of third party risks
- 151. Rights of third party against insurers on insolvency of insured
- 152. Duty to give information as to insurance
- 153. Settlement between insurers and insured persons
- 154. Saving in respect of sections 151, 152 and 153
- 155. Effect of death on certain causes of action
- 156. Effect of certificate of insurance
- 157. Transfer of certificate of insurance
- 158. Production of certain certificates, licence and permit in certain cases
- 159. Information to be given regarding accident
- 160. Duty to furnish particulars of vehicle involved in accident
- 161. Special provisions as to compensation in case of hit and run motor accident
- 162. Scheme for golden hour
- 163. Refund in certain cases of compensation paid under section 161
- 164A. Scheme for interim relief for claimants
- 164B. Motor Vehicle Accident Fund
- 164C. Power of Central Government to make rules
- 164D. Power of State Government to make rules