ORDER : 1. Leave granted. 2. The claim petition filed by the appellant herein in MVC No. 2851 of 2011 was dismissed by the MACT, Belagavi on the ground that it did not have the jurisdiction to entertain the petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. There was a delay in filing the appeal before the High Court challenging the said order of the MACT. The High Court dismissed the appeal on the ground of delay reserving liberty to the appellant to file claim petition in the place where the accident had taken place. In the course of the order, the High Court has also observed that “even otherwise on merits also, the judgment impugned appears to be just and proper and does not call for interference by this Court”. 3. No reasons have been assigned for dismissal of the appeal on merits. Having permitted the appellant to file a fresh claim petition before the competent court, it was not justified in dismissing the appeal on merits. 4. Hence, the observations of the High Court dismissing the appeal on merits is hereby set aside reserving liberty to the appellant to file a fresh claim petition before the competent court. 5. The appeal is disposed of accordingly, without order as to costs.