STATE OF PUNJAB vs BHAJAN KAUR .

The Supreme Court ruled that Section 140 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 does not have retrospective effect, affirming that statutes are presumed to be prospective unless explicitly stated otherwise. The Court clarified that Section 92-A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939 established a statutory liability, and without clear provisions for retroactivity, the new provisions cannot apply to past incidents. The appeal was dismissed, maintaining the compensation awarded under the earlier statute.