Manager, National Insurance Co.Ltd vs Saju P.Paul & Anr

The Supreme Court held that under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the insurance company is liable to pay compensation for bodily injury to a claimant who was a spare driver in a goods vehicle, despite not being the driver at the time of the accident. The Court emphasized that the claimant was directed by his employer to travel in the vehicle for work purposes, thus establishing a connection to the employment. The Court overturned the Kerala High Court's previous ruling that denied liability, affirming the Tribunal's award of Rs. 2,88,000 with interest.