ORIENTAL INSURANCE CO.LTD. vs PORSELVI

The Supreme Court set aside the Allahabad High Court's dismissal of an appeal under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, regarding the effective date of an insurance policy. The Court held that when a policy specifies a commencement time, it becomes operative from that time, not from the previous midnight, as established in New India Assurance Co. Ltd. v. Sita Bai and other precedents. The matter was remitted for fresh consideration due to the High Court's failure to address this critical aspect.