In a recent judgment, the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by Urmila Chand, who had challenged the disbursement of motor accident compensation. The court held that she had already accepted her share knowingly and could not later claim fraud or unfairness.
Background
The case dates back to 2009, when Priyank Chand lost his life in a road accident involving a truck and a car near Tinsukia, Assam. His mother, widow, and two minor children filed a claim before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, which awarded ₹11.82 lakh as compensation.
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In 2015, the Tribunal disbursed the money: ₹1 lakh to Urmila Chand (the mother), ₹6.26 lakh to her daughter-in-law, and ₹3 lakh each kept in fixed deposit for the two minor children. Urmila signed the order sheet and encashed the cheque. But later, she filed a review petition alleging that the distribution was unfair and that she deserved a larger share. The Tribunal dismissed her review petition, citing a delay of over six months. The Gauhati High Court upheld this order in 2021.
Hearing her final appeal, a bench led by Justice N.V. Anjaria noted that Urmila had willingly signed the joint petition for disbursement in 2015 and had taken the cheque without raising any protest. “When the petitioner had signed the order sheet and received a cheque for ₹1 lakh, she is deemed to know the contents of the order,” the bench observed.
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The judges also remarked that her reliance on health issues and dissatisfaction with her lawyers could not justify the delay. The High Court’s earlier finding that her subsequent actions appeared like “a ploy to create a story” was also endorsed.
Decision
The Supreme Court concluded that Urmila Chand’s conduct showed conscious acceptance of her share, and she could not later “approbate and reprobate.” Finding no merit in her claims, the bench dismissed the appeal on September 3, 2025, bringing an end to the long-drawn litigation.
Case Title: Urmila Chand vs. Sonu Chand & Others
Date: September 3, 2025
