The Supreme Court today expressed shock on learning that over 50 percent vehicles plying on roads in India are not insured.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra was dealing with an Insurance Company's challenge to a Telangana High Court order which directed it to pay the claimants compensation amount of Rs.10 lakhs (approx.) alongwith interest. The claimants had lost their family member in a 1996 accident.

The judges interacted with General Managers of 22 Insurance Companies, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), and the General Insurance Council, when they were told by Senior Advocate Joy Basu (for respondents) that nearly 50% of vehicles in India are not insured as on date.

"My God! 50 percent?" exclaimed Justice Karol.

Basu c

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