A registering authority or the officer-in-charge of a police station shall, if so required by a person who alleges that he is entitled to claim compensation in respect of an accident arising out of the use of a motor vehicle, or if so required by an insurer against whom a claim has been made in respect of any motor vehicle, furnish to that person or to that insurer, as the case may be, on payment of the prescribed fee, any information at the disposal of the said authority or the said police officer relating to the identification marks and other particulars of the vehicle and the name and address of the person who was using the vehicle at the time of the accident or was injured by it and the property, if any, damaged in such form and within such time as the Central Government may prescribe.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 160
Section 160 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 imposes an affirmative statutory duty upon Registering Authorities and Police Officers to furnish comprehensive vehicular and insurance particulars of any vehicle involved in an accident to affected persons or insurers upon payment of the prescribed fee.
Where an offending vehicle's insurer is unknown or the driver/owner absconds, immediately submit a formal statutory requisition under Section 160 to the RTO and the concerned Station House Officer (SHO). If authorities fail to furnish the insurance details within 7 days, file an interim application before the MACT seeking judicial summons under Section 169 MV Act r/w Order XVI CPC.