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Section 159: Information to be given regarding accident

Motor Vehicles Act • Official Statutory Text & Practice Guide

Statutory Regulation
Legal Standard
Competent Court / Tribunal
Act 1988
Section 158 All 217 Sections of Motor Vehicles Act Section 160

Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 159

Section 159 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 mandates that police authorities must prepare and forward an Accident Information Report (AIR) to the Claims Tribunal and insurer within ninety days of an accident.

  • Inquiry & Trial Mechanism: Section 159 establishes an affirmative statutory bridge connecting criminal police investigation with civil accident compensation.
  • Core Legal Standard: The investigating police officer is mandated, during the investigation of a motor accident, to prepare an Accident Information Report (AIR) containing verification of driver licence, vehicle registration, fitness, permit, and insurance particulars.

This report must be submitted to the Claims Tribunal having jurisdiction and to the concerned insurance company within ninety days (or such period as prescribed). Under Section 166(4), the Claims Tribunal is legally empowered to treat this Accident Information Report (or Detailed Accident Report - DAR) as a claim petition, initiating suo motu compensation proceedings without requiring the victim to formally file a petition.

Key Landmark Precedents:
  • Gohar Mohammed v. Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corp. (2023) 4 SCC 381: The Supreme Court laid down comprehensive nationwide procedural directions mandating that police must submit First Accident Reports (FAR) within 48 hours, Interim Accident Reports (IAR) within 50 days, and Detailed Accident Reports (DAR) within 90 days to Claims Tribunals and insurers.
  • Jaiprakash v. National Insurance Co. Ltd. (2010) 2 SCC 607: The Supreme Court initiated the Detailed Accident Report (DAR) procedure, holding that rapid compilation of accident particulars by police and insurers eliminates delays and fraudulent claims.
Legal Commentary:

Section 159 represents a revolutionary procedural shift in motor accident law. Under the modern DAR/FAR mechanism enforced by the Supreme Court in Gohar Mohammed, accident victims no longer need to struggle to obtain insurance details or police papers. The institutional transmission of reports directly to the MACT enables immediate verification, settlement offers under Section 149, or swift judicial adjudication.

Section 158 All 217 Sections of Motor Vehicles Act Section 160