Recovery of money from insurer as arrear of land revenue
Section 174 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 deals with recovery of money from insurer as arrear of land revenue. Where any amount is due from any person under an award, the Claims Tribunal may, on an application made to it by the person entitled to the amount, issue a certificate for the amount to the Collector and the Collector shall proceed to recover the same in the same manner as an arrear of land revenue. The Act came into force on 01 Jul 1989.
Where any amount is due from any person under an award, the Claims Tribunal may, on an application made to it by the person entitled to the amount, issue a certificate for the amount to the Collector and the Collector shall proceed to recover the same in the same manner as an arrear of land revenue.
Section 174, The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (Act 59 of 1988).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Referred to by 1
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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S. Iyyapan vs United India Insurance Co. Ld.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
An insurance company cannot deny or avoid its statutory liability to pay compensation to third-party accident victims merely on the ground that the driver, although holding a valid and effective driving licence to drive a light motor vehicle, did not possess a specific endorsement to drive that particular light motor vehicle when used for commercial purposes. The driver's possession of a valid light motor vehicle licence is sufficient authority to operate any type of light motor vehicle regardless of whether it is used for personal or commercial transportation. The statutory obligation of the insurer under Section 149 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to satisfy judgments and awards in respect of third-party liability cannot be defeated on such technical distinctions between subcategories of light motor vehicles. The compulsory insurance legislation is fundamentally a social welfare measure designed to ensure that accident victims receive compensation, and all relevant provisions must be interpreted to effectuate this paramount protective purpose.
On this section: Enforcement and execution of Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal awards
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Premkumari vs Prahlad Dev
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
An insurance company cannot escape liability to pay motor accident compensation merely on the ground that the driver possessed a fake or invalid driving license. The insurance company must establish that the insured (vehicle owner) committed a breach of policy conditions by negligently failing to verify a driver's license or being aware that the license was fake. A vehicle owner who verifies that a driver possesses a license that appears genuine on its face and is competent to drive has not breached any policy condition. Therefore, in such cases, the insurance company remains liable to innocent third parties, though it may be entitled to recover the amount from the insured if breach is substantially proved. The compulsory insurance scheme under the Motor Vehicles Act is fundamentally designed to protect accident victims, and this protective purpose cannot be defeated by technical grounds related to driver licensing.
On this section: Relates to enforcement and execution of awards
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Questions about Section 174
What have the courts held on Section 174 of the Motor Vehicles Act?
S. Iyyapan vs United India Insurance Co. Ld. (01 Jul 2013) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Enforcement and execution of Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal awards. Another 1 judgment on this section is set out below, all of them from the Supreme Court. They run from 2008 to 2013.
How do I find court cases under Section 174 of the Motor Vehicles Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: MV Act 174, section 174 MV Act, section 174 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 2 reported judgments on this section are set out on this page, beginning with S. Iyyapan vs United India Insurance Co. Ld. (01 Jul 2013).
What should I read with Section 174 of the Motor Vehicles Act, and has it changed?
1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it.
When did Section 174 of the Motor Vehicles Act come into force?
Section 174 of the Motor Vehicles Act, cited as MV Act 174, came into force on 01 Jul 1989, having been enacted on 14 Oct 1988. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 2. Definitions1948 words
- 88. Validation of permits for use outside region in which granted1560 words
- 51. Special provisions regarding motor vehicle subject to hire-purchase agreement, etc1199 words
- 150. Duty of insurers to satisfy judgments and awards against persons insured in respect of third party risks1102 words
- 96. Power of State Government to make rules for the purposes of this Chapter995 words
- 72. Grant of stage carriage permits868 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.