Bhubaneswar, Aug. 5 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Centre to develop a pilot project under which vehicles without valid insurance could be denied fuel at petrol pumps.

The move aims to improve compliance with insurance laws and protect road accident victims.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra directed the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), in consultation with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), to evolve the pilot project. The court said fuel supply will be linked to a vehicle's valid insurance status, and uninsured vehicles may be refused fuel.

The bench noted that nearly 56% of vehicles in India remain uninsured, citing the Standing Committee on Fin...