A registered owner remains liable for motor accident compensation absent a lawful transfer of ownership.

The appeals arose from a common MACT award concerning an auto-rickshaw accident on 18 October 2013, in which Mytramma died and minor S. Tanuja was injured.

The Tribunal awarded ₹9,65,950 in the death claim and ₹20,000 in the injury claim.

The vehicle’s registered owner, Raghavendra, appealed on liability, asserting that he had sold the auto to T. Manjunath in 2012 and executed a Special Power of Attorney to facilitate transfer of its registration.

The claimants opposed the appeals, relying in part on the fact that Raghavendra had obtained release of the vehicle from police by executing an indemnity bond.

Whether the Tribunal was justified in holding Raghavendra liable to pay compensation.

The Court referred to Section 2(30) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, concerning the meaning of “owner,” and to the statutory requirement that transfer of a vehicle be completed and notified in the prescribed manner.

It applied the principle that a claimed sale or transfer, unsupported by the legally required transfer steps, does not displace the registered owner’s liability.

Raghavendra’s assertion that he had sold the auto and executed a Special Power of Attorney did not establish that ownership had been transferred in accordance with law.

He had not shown that the required transfer documents were executed or that the sale was reported to the jurisdictional Transport Authority; nor had he impleaded the alleged purchaser.

Further, the indemnity bond showed that Raghavendra himself had obtained the vehicle’s release after its seizure in connection with the accident, which the Tribunal treated as contrary to his asserted position.

The Court therefore found no basis to disturb the finding of liability.

Both appeals were dismissed, and the amount deposited was directed to be transmitted to the Tribunal for disbursal.