NHAI Empowered To Lay And Maintain Roads, Cannot Be Mulcted With Liability Under Motor Vehicles Act: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court ruled that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) cannot be held liable under the Motor Vehicles Act for accidents caused by road conditions. The court observed that the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) could only pass awards against the insurer, owner, or driver of the vehicle involved in the accident. The case involved a claim against NHAI for an accident caused by a lorry parked without signals on a highway. The court set aside the MACT’s order, which had directed NHAI to pay compensation, emphasizing that NHAI’s role in road maintenance did not extend to liability under the Motor Vehicles Act.