In Brief
When a motor vehicle was hit a woman and her nephew (who died) while driving in reverse, the Tribunal awarded compensation but named the registered owner as liable. The High Court reversed this, saying the registered owner had transferred the vehicle so the transferee should be liable instead. The Supreme Court held that the registered owner under Section 2(30) of the Motor Vehicles Act bears liability, regardless of claimed transfers not reflected in registration records. The Court emphasized that the law protects accident victims from uncertainty; they need not trace through chains of unregistered transfers. The registered owner's liability is fastened unless the vehicle is under hire-purchase, lease, or hypothecation. The High Court's judgment was set aside and compensation liability was restored to the registered owner.
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