Case: Panna Lal Vs. Shri Chand Mal and Others

The facts of the case lie within a very narrow compass and have been detailed in the judgment of the courts below. It appears that Manak Chand was the owner of a lorry No. AJM 455 and had also the route permit in his name. On February 17, 1956, Manak Chand sold the route permit and the lorry to Lalchand and Tarachand for a sum of Rs. 4, 251. Subsequently, the purchasers Lalchand and Tarachand, original defendants, sold the lorry to the plaintiff Panna Lal on December 24, 1956. The finding of facts recorded by the courts below are that after the sale both by Manak Chand to Lalchand and Tarachand and by Lalchand and Tarachand to the plaintiff, the lorry as also the registration papers thereof were delivered to theand this title passed to him. As, however the plaintiff did not choose to move the registering authority for transfer of registration of the lorry in his name, the name of the original owner Manak Chand continued to remain in the papers of the registering authority under the Motor Vehicles Act. The plaintiff issued notices both to Manak Chand and to Lalchand and Tarachand for taking steps for transferring the registration in his name in view of the purchase of the lorry by him. Despite these notices, no action was taken. Hence the plaintiff filed a suit for recovery of the amount of Rs. 5000 which was paid by the plaintiff for the purchase of lorry from Lalchand and Tarachand defendants and claimed Rs. 1, 800 as interest on that amount by way of damages.

Court's reasoning:
3. Under the provisions of this section, the transfer of ownership is permitted but the statute casts an obligation on the transferee to report to the registering authority concerned regarding the transfer of the vehicle along with a certificate of registration and then get the registration transferred in his name. It was therefore the duty of the plaintiff to have applied to the registering authority under Section 31 of the Motor Vehicles Act and got the registration transferred in his name. It has been found by the courts below that all the registration papers as also the memo of sale were handed over to the plaintiff. In these circumstances therefore if the plaintiff did not choose to move the registering authority, he cannot be heard to say that he is entitled for refund of the purchase money or claim damages. The decisions of the courts below are therefore correct and do not warrant any interference by his Court.