The Motor Accidents Claim Tribunal (MACT) is a specialized quasi-judicial body or institution established under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Its origin lies in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939, which first created tribunals to provide a quick and cost-effective remedy for accident victims. The MACT was constituted to solve the problem of prolonged litigation in Civil Courts by providing an efficient forum for adjudicating compensation claims.
The State Government constitutes one or more MACTs for a specified area under Section 165(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Tribunal has the exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate claims for compensation in respect of death, bodily injury, or property damage arising from the use of motor vehicles. An application for compensation can be made by the injured person, the owner of damaged property, or the legal representatives of the deceased under Section 166. After an inquiry, the MACT makes an award under Section 168, determining the compensation and specifying the liability of the insurer, owner, or driver. The MACT is connected to the High Court, where appeals against its awards can be filed under Section 173.
The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 introduced significant changes. The Amendment inserted a new Section 164 for no-fault liability, replacing the old Section 140 and Section 163A. Under the new provision, the fixed compensation for death is ₹5,00,000 and for grievous hurt is ₹2,50,000. Furthermore, the amended Section 166(3) introduced a limitation period, stating that no application for compensation shall be entertained unless made within six months of the accident. The Amendment also mandates that the MACT shall treat the police report of an accident, forwarded under Section 159, as an application for compensation.