ORDER

SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 6260 OF 2019:

Heard learned counsel for the parties.

2. Leave granted.

3. The appellant-Insurance Company is aggrieved by the judgment dated 09^th August, 2018, passed by the Division Bench of the High Court of Calcutta by which the compensation awarded by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Sealdah, vide judgment dated 17^th December, 2008, has been enhanced from ₹1,14,500/- (Rupees One Lakh Fourteen Thousand Five Hundred) to ₹5,00,000/- (Rupees Five Lakhs).

4. The short point for consideration before this Court is whether the amendment in Section 163-A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 , which came into effect by a Gazette Notification on 22^nd May, 2018, would relate to an accident which had occurred prior to the said date.

5. Learned counsel for the appellant submits that the law which was amended would come into force prospectively, which is a normal rule of interpretation and there being no retrospectivity indicated in the amendment itself, the same has to be construed in a harmonious manner giving effect to each and every word.

6. Reliance was placed on the last line of the notification, which indicates that the said amendment would come into