Karnataka High Court rules that Mutt is ‘legal representative’ of deceased seer, awards ₹5.94 lakh compensation in road accident case

Interpreting the scope of dependency under motor accident laws, the Karnataka High Court has held that a religious institution like a Mutt qualifies as a “legal representative” of a deceased ascetic and is entitled to claim compensation for “loss of dependency”.

A Division Bench, comprising Justice Suraj Govindaraj and Justice Tyagaraja N. Inavally, allowed an appeal filed by the successor of Balehonnur Shrimad Rambapuri Virsinhasan Mutt, Shorapur taluk of Yadgir district, while setting aside a tribunal’s order that had denied dependency compensation on the ground that a swami, having renounced worldly ties, has no legal heirs.