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Section 143: Applicability of Chapter to certain claims under Act 8 of 1923

Motor Vehicles Act • Official Statutory Text & Practice Guide

Statutory Regulation
Legal Standard
Competent Court / Tribunal
Act 1988
Section 142 All 217 Sections of Motor Vehicles Act Section 144

Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 143

Section 143 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 extends the principles of no-fault liability under Chapter X to claims for compensation for death or permanent disablement of workmen arising out of motor accidents under the Employee's Compensation Act, 1923.

  • Cross-Statutory Extension to Employee Compensation: Enacts a statutory bridge applying Chapter X no-fault principles to claims under the Employee's Compensation Act, 1923 (formerly Workmen's Compensation Act), where death or permanent disablement arises from the use of a motor vehicle.
  • Strict Employer & Insurer Liability: Imposes liability on the employer and the employer's motor insurer to pay no-fault compensation regardless of whether the deceased or injured workman contributed to the accident through negligence.
  • Statutory Option of Forum Safeguard: Operates in conjunction with Section 167, ensuring that an employee or dependent who elects to claim under the Employee's Compensation Act is not deprived of the beneficial no-fault protections guaranteed under the Motor Vehicles Act.
Key Landmark Precedents:
  • National Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Mastan (2006) 2 SCC 641: The Supreme Court held that under Section 167 r/w Section 143, a claimant has a statutory right of election to proceed either before the MACT or before the Employee's Compensation Commissioner; once an election is made, the claimant cannot pursue the other forum concurrently, but no-fault principles apply in both.
  • Gottumukkala Appala Narasimha Raju v. National Insurance Co. Ltd. (2007) 13 SCC 446: The Supreme Court affirmed that where a workman suffers death or permanent disablement in a motor accident during the course of employment, Section 143 ensures that compensation is assessed under beneficial social welfare principles without requiring proof of employer negligence.
Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:

When advising injured commercial drivers, cleaners, or transport laborers, strategically assess whether to file before the MACT under Section 166 or before the Employee's Compensation Commissioner under Section 143. If employer negligence cannot be easily proved by eyewitnesses, proceeding under the Employee's Compensation Act r/w Section 143 offers a swift, formula-driven recovery backed by compulsory insurance.

Section 142 All 217 Sections of Motor Vehicles Act Section 144