Kerala High Court
State Of Kerala vs M/S. Evm Autokraft India Pvt. Ltd on 26 March, 2025
WA NO. 872 0F 2020 1 2025 : KER: 25859
IN THE HIGH COURT 0F RERAIA AT ERNAKULZD4
EREsrm
TRE HCINouRABI,I DR. JusTlcE A. K. OAyASANKARAN NzueIAR
&
THE HONOuRABLE MR. dusTlcE EAstmRZDi s.
wEDNESDAr, THE 26TH Day oF mRCH 2025 / 5TH CIAITHRA, 1947
WA NO. 872 0F 2020
TEE JUDOuENT DATED 16.07.2019 IN WP(C) NO.192010F 2018)
APPELIANTS/RESPONI)ENTS IN TEE WPC :
STATE OF KERAI.A
REPRESENTED By THE sECRETARy, DEPARnGNT OF TENspORT,
GOVERNRENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVENENTHAPURAM -695 001.
THE REGIONAL TENSPORT OFFICER
REGIONAI. TENSPORT OFFICE, CIVIL. STATION, KAKKANAD,
EENAKUIIAM, PIN -682 030.
By SMT. GOvERNiGNT PLEADER SMT. RESMITHzi RZDncHzuiDRmi
RESPONDENT/RETITIONER IN TEE WPC :
M/S. EVM AUTOREAFT INDIA PVT. LTD.
REGISTERED OFFICE AT NEW NO.8, OLD NO.36/2, 1ST FLOOR,
CUDDAI.o, I :vAIAKKtJppAM, ARlyANKuppAM, com4t7NE ,
poNDlcHERR¥ - 6o5oo7, REPRESENTED Br ITs initziGING
DIRECTOR, SABU JOHNY.
8¥ SMT. R.inNEEsm
SRI . IIEO IiuKOSE
THIS WRIT APPEAI. HAVING BEEN FINALliY HEARD ON 26.03.2025, THE
CotJRT ON THE SAID DAY DELIVERED THE FOIil.OWING:
WA NO. 872 0F 2020 2 2025 : KER: 25859
JUDGMENT
Dr.A.KTavasankkaranNamblar.I. It is submitted by the leaned Government Pleader that the issue involved in this appeal has already been decided in favour of the appellant State by the Division Bench of this Court dated 19.11.2020 in WA.No.972 of 2020 and cormected cases.
Taking note of the said judgment of the Division Bench, a copy of which shall be annexed to this judgment, this appeal is allowed by setting aside the judgment of the leaned Single Judge to the limited extent impugned therein and by following the earlier judgment of the Division Bench of this Court referred above.
Sd/-
DR. A. K.TAYASANKARAN NAMBIAR JUDGE Sd/-
EASWARAN S. JUDGE inns &rmsBsttH.R:as3i WA No,224Zrafil9 i conn.cases
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"€.R.„ I u 8 a M IN T [w# ttEL=ae. 24ee* ELELf a4=£* £4=5. £4¥g, =434, z4=,¥€±€2#E#i§ife¥z±#i7ife2#JT±53##Fas?€Lgd,2#T¥L4 4s=, 590* Gce+ 69§* 7Oz, T#, ¥cef 787* 7ae, ash big, G=6¥ 88=, ee7, `aoq, ?2J ft g7=/=O=qu Dated this the lgivday+Of November, 2D20 Ehi.alHl'aueE` I. These appeals have+ been- filed fry the Officers of the Stets challenging judgment of tits learned Single Judge fiispo§ing ¢f the vyrit patitious filed by perry re±perBdeflts by `ig5uing the tolwhng directions:-
"=T* fts a reso!t Sf m¥ aBove``dGs€uB§ian I §ummaris* my indgmeltt `on the t§£ues noted aEapa a€ fall®us: {al SectloTI 3{G} bf Mattir Vtsfttctes Tiaxati'ori Act$ 1S?6 ts wiEEh±n Etie `compateace Qf S*at€ tegl5tafure and §ectfoti 3[6} is not in any manner rapugnarit to Chapter IV Of Motor Wehicies` ckfta I g88 ®r ultra Wires Abet 197E, SeREtsn 3[5} therefore ls va}3d agivd tegBt.
{b} THE reglstrapSpn Of a mFi.€Fanspqtt vehicle and paymertt t]f reglstratlon fee under Act 1988 or payment of motor vehicle tax under a Stat£ Iegte}ature cantinLies to be vetid §o tone as the ¥€h}€[g `15` ifepe and used in the State in which it ts REgi*stered. These veitic!es if enter State of fterata and stay be¥®nd the period stlpulaEeti by the Staife enactmanta the vehicle is fiequired to Say vehte!e *a* as per Section 3{&} read twith Annerm{s± 1}} 8f Schedule of Act 1978.
REENb.`REtt#3REI WA No,£242J2019 & csnn.cases h : SS i -
rc} The }mBugned orders calling ¥#®n the pet]tESIters te vegiRE8r tfty€ 5ubifect vehiEle§ fn 5tete raf KEfala anti pay !ite a,RT are set aside as il]eg±£F arbitrary and vi®`lative of ptia€ipfes Of netREfa! ,juREiee. the[ ma#Ers, are restored to the file Of resp&ctiue Rngiona! TTranspoit decerf {€ap#ndents fat aenslderati®n and diaposat by keeping in viGEur the principte5 stated 5upra+ {d} The writ pettlten5 ftied Ehaltetig.€ng shaww cause nBtice5 a're glthfien ifeur neEks` t}rne from tha `de*e quf fieeg5p# Of ce.Hy of this }u'tl,gmerit to file de}ettl'tkns age,€n5t propo'se# ta¥ lelfy add are Brfes±'!ed RE sfi®w that* firstl# ]the irehtc}e ts n,at terfe tor use in State c±f tt€rafa be¥and th§tt]r days aEidA alterrmthreln vehltle Lts not at all used`ar kept far use in State cFf #erala+ The #bifetutaT* raisrfud agatnst` praposed action ts e#amltted 3tt datail and orders as are uearranted try the c}rcumstance5 of the cas€ are pas5eds Reap!endents keeGlflg. in viett the ±Eope, tharaqEieF and purp#se Of trf`E#denee ®f vth€cte tax* enn5ttler the ottecHen§ and pass de!teMed ®rders* iti all the maFtteas niri« restored te fits Bs "e!l a§ where time is granted ifer fiiiflg L3bdaedans to Sti®w cause troEtee` "
Aifer a fomman jtldgment was deljvengd ifl WP{G7 No. 33231f=01€ and cormected ca5est similar an@tteFT§ wema dsspesefi of an the bas}§ of the 53id judgment.
2. A batch of appeaig €`ame u~p for hearirtg and ifl matters where service has been fompl€ti¥A we heard ths learned counsel appearir*g on either side. We have a!s® requested the leamed counsel appearing jn other casg§ in wft}Eh the appfal§ were freifSg anseiEEtR.tlffes£ WA Mo£242/2alg & corm.€a5Es
-:5~&=- , filed, and i" €ase§ where service of n¢€ice are fiat compl€ife* to address tfteir arguments a`5 well, 3* The factual a5¢E.cts innyolved in these matters are sfaGrt. The writ petitioners affi per5,cn5, who had purchased their vehj£[es from the IJnipn iferritc,,ry `qFf Putiuffeefty. AILeg!mg that tha5e tysiniclg§ are pigring in th`e 5tate' Cf #e'rala, steps weife Eakefl by 'the respectftye Reg¥Bgiva8 Transport fiuthorities in the Sifetg t® €an€e! their registratiqn, ay®tife§ in that regard froad beeffi i55ued by the Rngi®nal TranspGit Authgritie§ to the writ petitioners and to conduct an enqui`ry in that regard which Came to be challenged in 5epaF3te writ petiti®RE+ Accord§ftg ta tfroe Regi8na] Tra"§ppri Auth3ritie§, ±he petitiaF*ers faad pradufed false and fabricated d®Euments €o register the vehicles at Pudu€hgrry and the veh3c!Eg were ndi normally kept at Pudufherry wlterea5 th'e vehicles are normally kept in the State of Kerala. It is the €onten±iQn of the 5t@t® that the intention of the pgtiti®ners i§ Qnl¥ to evade payment of motor vehjGle§ tax at tifee time of regiBtratiSn as provided aynder m®±or Vthicle§ Taxatfon A€t. 197S thereinafter referred as `thc TBxation A€t{). In tifee procesfi, patitidrnErs also chalifng€d 5ectien 3{3} of tfroE Taxation Act.
4. The leaned 5inglgjudge while rejectiftg tfae Challenge atlRE.*RER:seREi WA N¢.2E42#Clg & c¢nn*££se5 tr 2 §,2 S, n-
ta Section 3(6} ®f the Taxatifin Act, held that the impugfled Grders faMjng u.pofl the petitioners te mag&ster the vehic!.e§ in the State pf KBrala an`d pay l`ife tax aFTg i!Iega!., a,rbitrary and ¥iSlatity€ ®f principles df natural ju5tic€. All the matters we`re re`stcred to the files ®f ffle regp€€ti#e RegioF!a! Tran5peit Officers ifer ifegife conL§idera±ion and disp®5'al. !t was also held that the writ pe±iti,oners feave tq file their ®bjEEtipr*s tn the 5h®w cause r*€tices wit,him four weeks agaim§€ tthti ,p,ro,posed levy of tax a`nd they were entitled to Show th'at the vehic,Ie§` are net kept for ue§e in Kerala beytmd 3¢ days and altemattwe!y the vehiEie i§ nat at all us§ed or kep.t for use i'n §tete of ifera!a.
5. The I€armed §pecaal t;ovemment Pleader while impugnistg the afcmasaiti judgment submiE§ tfeat the ®flly queEtiGn that is required to fre €®n5ideFed i" the matter is rngardigivg the findin`g Of the !eamed §fmg!e jREdge with reifererice to 5£55 of the Mot#r Vefricles Act, igaa (hereinafter referred a§ the *mv Act'}* The learned Single Judge he[ti at paragraph 30.7 that the TranspGIt D€parferment of State af KeT`ala affid its` ®ff!€€F§ da nat have jurigd}cfi®n ugivder 5,55(5! Bf tfee MV Act, tB c-an€El the ' registrati'®n eifecied and Eomp!eted in the union Territory ®f Pudu€heFny. He argued that the s€hethe of tire sta'tarte permittefi &#m:un!te6Bi WA N®.2242#fil9 & c®nmca§e§
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any registering authority, anywhere in lndiaf tB Conduct an enquiry, in a p!aG`e where` tifee vefti€!e is n®rmall¥ kept, to a§£erREin whether the magistrati®n was abfajmetl fmam any athgF registering au€hBrity* by produ€ing` either fal§e' dacumeflt5 rtyr by mi§mapresentati®n ®f facts, and iF the said authority is §Q satisfifed, it has, the power to cartcel the, megistratiam* But the Eeftiflcate Qf regifetration can be Eancelleti, cnly b# the ffrisinal registering aLith8rifty Sn int{mation from the €®nEErmed fBgi,ste#ng authority wfao tan€e!5 the fegistratit7n.
6, fin the other hiaflti4 ieErned foungel appe'aring on beha!\f Of Eke respqmderits/writ pEt`itione'rs wow(d gubrmit that the provisions of fectiSn 55 {5} pf the MV Act cannot be inv®ked by "any registering authority", whi±h i5 fethar €EEar from the u§g cf` tfae word "a registeFiFTg authoflity" '3`nd "the registering autfterit¥"
used ilt sub-`5ecti®n {5} Of 5e€tisn 55, lt is ,argued that th`e regi§teri#,g authority ifl the Sfat¥ ®f iferala €aflnot consid`er the validity of documents pradar€,ed by tfae petitioners bffure the registering a uthority eyf another `State .@r LJnien TEFTitory:
?, Appa'rentl,y, in tits japdgmenife which 3.,re imptigned herein. the }eamed Single i,udge trad pracfeded t8 £oftEider the 5Eope Of Se55!5} land had restricted the rigfrot Bf the Regiana! 2tSffl..rmft:42api Wn WQ.2242#®lg & €onn.cages
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Tran§pBrt` Autfroorities im the 5tate` Of ifeFala tQ tats afty action for canEe§latiSn cf registra`titrn in re`g?©ct qf wehicle§ which are already reg§5tered itt the State Of PwducinEgrry.
8,. ¢mscfar a§ the Sratefs €hal!enge' i5`®fi[y in respect of the jufi4§dietional autifeerifty q,f the registering, a`uthoFitieE ®f ttre State to invoke pew©r under Section 55(5} with reiferenc© to veisic!e§ regi5t€red in an®tfuEr State/LJniom Territ®ry* we tic givat th.ink that "e Sho`uld go into the ifecfual haEkground Bf `eactr and emery case as the 5€Qpe of appeal §§ very limitedD Stt 5.48 of the MVAct meads a5 u'nder:i`-
"#a. HSE855*ratlanx whefi¥ *8 Be matie*-SubSac€ to the pfiowisfan5 of setiion ,42. gBction I,#3 and 'sectian `6aj eve`ry Owner Df a maitor vehlete 'shall .Cause, the wehi€fe to be reg}5teued try a vegiRE%ring authoFfty th infhasS fur}sdict}®ri ha has Fife ve¥idenap SEF plB€e of Business ttiferg the v€hlEle i,B 'rmrma!## ke#ft., A tiara reading ®f S.40 imdifate3 that every 8wner of a motor vehicle has to iegister tifee veh!tle beifere, a registering auth8Fity in wh¢,s€'ju#¥sdicti®n he has the residence ®# plac£ Sf bu§in€ss witere the weth!clg i§ r!®rma[ly kept. Therefore, the plafg Of p?gi,stratj®`n &pparemtiy ,is with reference to the place where the vehicte7 is narma!ly ifept¢ It may bg Either his pla€e .of re§idenEe cr p'lafe of business+ asan.+RE#:Onus£ WA ENo,2242#0&9 & c¢nn,€ase5
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10, 5.46 ®fthE MVAct reads as unffer:A **#G* EREectfuen®as ln Bndtila ®r vegtetraitfarmw-Sub¢ett tn thg praril§i®ns aF Seatlon 4?, a manor veht#te registeretl in attardan€a "tth thSS ChaaptEr in `any State =hSll nat #aptl,ife ta de registered Gslfowhat& in india a[nd a cetttft$3ife Of reglstratton' 5sREed Dr tn terse undBr tltii& ftdr [n fREpedi dr such `weh}gte §ha!l be effective thndughaut {ntiia. "
Section 46 Of co«r§e i§ Subject ire,,S,,47* 5,47 relates to a situatlqp "froere a m®tar vehi'cle registered in or!e State has been kept in another 5t3te* for a period excgEtiihg twelve m®flth§ in which EVBmt tfroe owner af tne wehi€lg is Bfrliged to apply ta tfte regi§iferiffig authoFfty, within RThHse furi§diction the vehicle then is, for the ass,igftment of a new registration mark and he gh3ll present the EeftififatE of regigtgratiBft to that registering autha®rity, For that purpose, either tfroe owFTeF will have to get a fltl abjesti@m Egltificate a§ contemplated u/s 4a `Srmm the Registering Authqr}fty whar had i5§ued 3 certjF[cate of regi§trafeien or should take steps ag Eontemp!ateti under tfta Said pro¥isi®n. if there i§ failure to do ±®, §*47(5} indicates` tfaat a€'tiom could be taken ag'ainet the ^otwner in terms tit 5*17¥.
11* §,4g{l} of the MV Act reads aE under:-
"Sg. €hamgB ®f €Bfldenae or gr&aRE air hHPSIThe=§£ {1} tf ¥he owrfer af a mSt®r vgfticl€ teases te reside ®r hatye his ptafe Of business aE the a-dtiresE rfettprded in the cEiti`fisate SSfrltsREft3unREi WA No.2242#01g a G®rmfa§es rfu : 5&S -
t±f riEgistraEi®n ®f tine ¥Bhic!€, he 5hallt within thift}i days Bf afty such Change Of addFase, intimate in Su€th term aRE®mGanied by §uth decumettts af may bE #,rescribed &y the Central .G®vgmRE8tt#f his new aREre£§# te the registedng authority try wftS¢hi tife ±€Lrtifi€.ate tsf rfegfstratlori was isstl€d, Ei#, if' the lntpw atldt€ss is quithin the jurisdtetlain` Qf E`neinBr registering aHtharit3h to that athar reg£EifeFingr antberityS and 5hBli at the! same #me farmard the cq[rtift€aife af vegistratten to the registering au#frority Dt* as the €asE may de* E® th8' rmer r&gisterfn= autfrorfty in ardEf eriae an!a rifa" actdveas maw de 'enterad therein,"
lf there is failure t¢ €Qmpiy with §$49f I)* it entails action u/g 177 Gf ithe Actfi 12e S+55 Cf the Act a§ it then Was relafies tc can€el!ation Bf Fe`gj'§tratian -under #a.rious einfum5tance5* which reatls a§ undeF:+ 4T55. €aLREed5a[xp®n at fteiaptratde¢*rilS lf a m®ter venvyve}ts has been desErowed ®r ftas deem rendered pe.rthaneREy €nEapablf of use}* the owifer sha£F, witthin faurtee`n days air as So®ft as magf bet Faptt tire fact te thB registering authatity' hittfti,n RTh®se |urisdictfon he has the FEsldeHee ar ,ptaee af twsiness whale the vehicle is narvnaliy, ifeatN as ELa Ease may bea and steaJ] ftrmrard #S th€ Sutnt]fity the ±ertffiiEatE ot` regtsttapsofi Of tife u8hS€le.
{2} "e neglsterlng Euth®rifty shalt, if it #s th'E origtna{ regist@ring autfrorityi canE€I the REgs§tratiBn and the cettiftcaife `Of reg}strattolt, `®r. }f it ife nat* 5hatl forward the repQft and the •SErtiisREte cif regsstratiati to the ®riglnal rBg}sEEring authority arid that authotity shall EaHeet the regfsflration. {3} Ihny registering auEhotity may Order Eire REaminatian Qf a motor uchicte urithin its }urisdictipn try such authatlt]r as the £catht.REH..s3fr3I WA N#,.2Z42#Olg & €onn.gases
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S±ate GQifemfflEat may try ®rdBr a#peirit ]anti+ lf upen fuich exam}natitm aind Bftsr giving the Bwner En Bppeitunfty to make any repnesentattode ire onay w}tsit to maife ttry Sgnding *Q the awfler a natiGe bar neg{stered post B€knewletigm±th dITQ at his atidress entered in thE EBttifi¢cFife Of regf§tratSen}, Wit 'is sadefied that thE vahlcte is ln Such a uendttiferf that it is lnEapabLe of being used oF its use {n a pt±btte place 'woutd €®nstltute a dang8r to ELeL qudi]ic and that `tt fs b.a¥onct rea=anab!te reHEir€ may REnedi -the tegi#Tatitan. {4} tf a `reg`isteting autfrority ts sat}sfted th# a m®ter viehl]E}e has been permanemu`tl remqued ®tlt Of [nd!S, ¥ife registBri,ng autharfty ~±ha# carfutel the regtsEratteft.
{5} lf a' re#!sterihg authority i5 s±tiREed thi€± the rnglstratton ot a rm®tor vehicle has been Qthatn€d ®n the basis dr tiuetim€nte vwhich wlfeFe, ®F by rep#eserttat*rmfi `Of facts whiEh was, false in ]any materiidt GattScutar. ®r the engine number or the chasfis number €m,ha§sSfi thafenn are different firom squEIt TELmbe¢ €nE€red in ENE eeFtqu€ate ®f Fngls€raE}®n, the regi§terihg autho'rlfty Shall aftdtr gfty3ng th€ Dwnfar an apirqit*f nit# Eo make such representation a5 he tttagf wish to make {try sending to the awneF a nattee ty FngREered pest REfanow#]edgmeftt dug di his alddress ente*ed fn the ceitrfucate Of registFatiQn}, and ft]r reasons Ea! be te€Srded 5n "ri¥tng, €arueet the reglstra#en® {6} A ifegtREetin.g] a`ftth®fitF cariREI1]ng the de!g}stra#}Sh Of a mator viehit}e under section 54 ®r under *hts 5eetiQn shalt communicate Such fact tn writing te the ®"]ner qf the' uchREte, and Eke ®"net ®f the vehl€tE Shall ttrithwlth surrender te that authtsrity the eettttgcate of regSstratiori ®f the vehlcte. {1) A rag.istering authoflty maREng an oFde[ Of carraetFatton under section 54 ar under Eh}§ §eetsan 5hal!, ]f tE i§ the tlriginat registering auth®fiSEIt cancel the cett€fiEate ti REgtstratlpn and tire entry relating to` the uehit:\te tn its re€®fide, and* if €t is not Stiap:rm`tngEsi WA N®.22#a#¢19 & ctinn.[aee5
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the actg4Fpaf rREi5teftr*g autharit# torFTand the fei#ficaEfa oF neglstITatton to ghat authotibh and that auth®Fity EhBll €arttel the €eitifiEate Of rREjseREEthn ,anut th€ entf±¢ re!atEng to ttte mtit#r ¥eh§gle iti RE feettfitis.
{8} The Expr€asian wiotlglnal neatsteting authorfty" in thl5 £eeHan aftd fh sect#tine itl+ 49, de. 5Z, 53 and 54 tnaans tire REg3stedng .auth`orit¥ ln wfrose i:eeords the 3rag}sEratfen qif #ha veiticle `te reeordedly {#} In this se!atlom !'ceftificate ®f REgfeEraHen" ifltludee a Geftiftgate ]trf negianatiolt re`ng"ed under 'th# \#rmri§1ons Of ghi5 Tfte statute u§e§ the words 'thE registErir¥g autfuorifty', 'affiy regigifering atttherity' and ta registerjrtg autfro®rity' jn different Sub seGtioflg Bf a+55. 5.2{37} ddines tmagi5tgring autharity' a§ me@nEnE, En authorifty empowered to regi5ifer m®tar vchi€les tiffld©r Cha'pter IVA whafh !n€lLJde5 S'e±tioft 554 /3§ well.
13. Qn a ifere reading ef S]§5, it is `rather clear that tfae registering a,grtharity taft €aft€&l tifee registration cf a veh£Et€ under various c(rEumst@#&e£`. Ag, per sub-5ectian {1} of 5.5'5, when a m®tBF vehicle i§ d,'e§froysd or ifendered p€rfua"enel`y ` lncapeble 8f use, the Owner has *o report the said fact 'tc 'the registering auth¢rifty wi±froin whose juri5ffict}on he hag Lhis resEdeutee fir pl©€e Gf bu§inees, where the veh!cse i5 m®rmally ifept, aftd Shall a*s® forward to the authority the Eertifi€ate of nggi§trati®n of the vefticle, 5Lib section (2} provides tifeat# if the fi..REti=HRE.Rz4£#£l WA Nc.2242#tll9 & €©nn,£3ges
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report i§ refei¥ed fry the Sriginal fiegiftering authority, he can cancel the regi§ifeti®n and the fer*ificate of regi§tratl8n+ Ef it i§ met the original registering auth®riftyp he §h@ll forward the re'p®It and tfae certificate of registration to tfre origir*al registering authority in which €#©nt that aLitft®rit¥ Shall €an€el the regj§tration. Thereforet even if F wrehicle js rngi'stered within the juristiiEtScm ®f another regjgteriftg authorfty, if the wehi€le is deft'fo¥ed Sr rendered permafiently imc,ape,bie ©f u5eg the obligation of the owner i5 to lriferm the regi5terilig autftfirity within the jurisdiction ®f his place of res!dem€€ or pla,€g ®f business where tifes vehicle is m®rrma!!y kept along avith the cgrtmcate ®f registration+ lf trfu8 Said aexthority i5 nat the original rEgfistering auth`crifty, free Shall forward a rap®ut te the orig!na! registering authority and the said authority will cancel the re,gi,5trati®n* Sub*5€Eti'orf {3} c®ntemp,lades a styB mo€u power to be exemai£Ed by any megisteriffig auth®rifty# if it i§ found ¢m Examination ®f' a motor vehicle plying within its juri§di€ti®n, and after notice to the ®wneF ®f the ¥eh§cle, if he i§ satisfied that the vehicle iE in a condjti®n that j± i`s !nfapatrl€ df being u5eti in a public p!acg and would be a danger to the paeblic and it i5 beyond repair, hE can cancel the registratiqn. Sub-Section {4) of a.55 aman:RER;un3£ WA No.2242#¢1g & €drm.€asg§
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E®nifemp`Lates yet another §ituatiom when a registering autharifty is satisfied that a motor vehicle froas been permanefltly removed Out ®f India, it shall €an€el the registration. Here als`a, thf word used ,ig !a fEgi5tering authority'+
14. Sub-5eftiSn f5} cgntemplate§ a djfferemt '5ituati®flf which enab*©§ the fiegistering authorifty ta canEgl the regi§Eration Of a mQtor vehi€[e, If a Fegi§terrng auth®rifty is satisfied that the regi5tratiQn Qf a motor vdhiEle hBS been ®b*ained on the\ basis qf d,8€um,ent5 whicife were false in arty rmaterial particular cr b`y repre5en±a*iefl pf facts which again ftya5 fa3se in any material particu*Er, the Said pEgi§tering auth®rifty §ha!l, afifer gMmg the Owner an Qpp®rsunity t8 make guEh rEpreseritetien, Ean€el the regi5tratiBn* Action can al§8, be tatem if it is found that the engine ttumbEr ar Ehassi5' number diffiErs from what is menti'ened in the €ertififate Of magistratiegiv. Sub-sdrftiBn {6} ef 5.55 papuires the qeg{Stering @`t#thority €aneellir*g the ffig}strati®n tB EBmmunicate the Said fact ±p the Owner af the vehicle, afld the Owner has to provide the fertifica*e Bf registration ®f the vehicle to th± Said authority, Sub-§ect{oft {7i cf St55 further preyides tft3€ a regj§tering authorifty makigivg an Srdef 8f cancellation under Section 54 or "uflder thi`s §ection'`£ i.©„ §p§5f shall, if it is tfte afire:RER2±Emt WA Nff .2242fio19 & cgnmEa§e§
- i E i z Th Qri`g&n&! registering aL&thorfty, Ganfe! the ceftificate ftf registratiofl and the erfery relating to the vehi€l€ in its recard5, and[ if it i§ not the registgring auth®rifty, forward the feitifiEatg of regis*rafi®m t® that authorifty, attd that EuthflriEy sifeal! cancsi tfaa [eltifi€ata of registration and the entry relating to the m'at®r, ¥E'hi€l€ in i,t5 reE®rd§T Sub-section {S} further iqdic`ates that the e#presejon `#®rigina! registering a'#bhority" means the Fegi§tering auth®ritry iFT whose re€BrdE the regi§tratiQn ¢f the weh!Ele ig FTecordEd.
15+ There Eanflt*t bg any dispute Ebau± the fact that *h£ origifial regi5±ering aLjthority in 'tites'cE ca5'es i5 the Regional Thamspoft AacthBrity at Pnducfterr#, Tfie qngestiQn is, whether ar*y Other registering authority Can enntlu[t am enquiry witife reference tc am¥ matters 5pe€ified under 5ub"5ection {5}.
16. Now coming to §ub*5ectlon €5}, again it staife with the vrords tif a registering autinority is sati5fied`[., We ape ®f 'tfi® v`iew that sub-5ec'tlon {7} clar%fie5 ''the pciftt in dispute. It 5tErts with 'the wards *a registerjflg authorfty' maki'ng an order bf can[E!latit*n antl further indicates tftat `'if it i5 thE arigir}EEl reg£`,5tering authority", it cam ca'nce! the €efflficate ®f registratltcn and the entry r€latin'g to the vehicle in its re€®rds, lf }t i5 not the ariginat registering autfuorifty.` it ghffll forward tfte' Certificate of 2am£REm.RESSi WA Na.22$2ffiolB & c®nmfase§
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registration ta ttha`t autfroBrity, and that autfrorit¥ shall cancel the cerfe}fiEa±e of` reggstrati®n and ,the entry relating to tthe motcr wehic!e iH its re€ord£* ET, Apparently, subut5€cti®n I,7} provides a procedure winere the registering authcrjty who passes an Cinder of cancellation i§ Either the ¢riginEl regi§terimg authority or it i§ nat `Ehe tiriginal reg£§ifering authBri'fty® S,55`{1} aentemplate§ a situation, wth€grE the vehicle is` e§Eh®r destnc¥ed or in€apab}e a,f Li§`e ar*d thg'pma€e'dure is mentioned umdEr §.55i2}* 5.55{3} and t4} cgn±emplate§ tRTa d'ffierent §i±uaSton§ and the autfiorifty 4#any registering authority"
appearirlg uri.der sub-section {3} and "a reg`isteF€"g austhBrityae under Sub-5ecticr* {4} is Only €3 'JEanc'el the regigtgraticn"a Sufr- 5ectiefl (7} 3ppl§®5 ln 5u€h iit§tance5, which differenti`ates` between '"an crier of €anGe!lBfitin" land "caficei tfaE certific,ate Bf regi§tra.t^3®n afld erfery ifelating tB the vehicle in its reGftyFds". The di'st§nctiBn i§` cmly this. Any re-gistering autltofity fflutd rna,ire an ®rder' of €a,neeltatjon. B,aet the £€r±ifita`te gf regi5t<ratiBn and the entry relating t® the vehj€ie in its recGrds €afl bE canfg!led offil¥ b¥ the Srigiftal registeFiftg authority.
18€ lt is permi§§iblg for a vgh!'c'ie registered ift one State to be us`ed §n afl¥ Other 5tate* but `pf c®ufsE 5ubje€t ¥o the statutory + Wrm..unthas£ Wn W®.2242#Blg & £ontt®ca§es
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reatriEti®ns and tomp!}am€e ®f local laws. For that reason i`t5EIf# we cannot ascribe tff the View tfuat prcesedings untier S.5'5{`5} coH!# #e initiated Only by the Srigina! #egi£`terifflg auth®f!t¥, and e§pef ial{,y ifi the light cf Sub-a,eck,i®m {7}giv wlti€h €larifi€§ the jurisdidiona! fact+ 1g. It §5 pcimted Out fey the counsel ifer petiti®z}ers. that the Original registeriflg authariti€§ were satisfi''ed ab©tit ±h€ir €redentia!§ a± the time ¢f regfgt'retit}n and tfeenEfore anctiter re/gigter'lgivg authority cann\Bt aveutuFn the said finding of fact, validity #f the materials relied RIp©n at the time of registration are questions Of fact, and it i§ porsiBIe that the original regi§tefing authority had placed reiian€e upon lt and regi§tgred the tremf l£* A§ already 5taifed, a vehicle Can be negi§tered a£ a place wbe#e a person has his/her re§idariee or place ¢f bu§itte5st vyhere the vehicle is normally kept+ §uppese 3 ,Perscflts p,laE€ ®f re5£deffi€e and busi`nE§g wag in the State of KErala and tfee vEENcle i'§ normally kept ln the Statef arid if it i§ found €h`at tre hri5 nc place ®f' residence ®r busifle§£ in 'the place fff Original reEiEtef'ing authariftyf !t is a matter which requ{re§ enquiry in tsrmg, wi`th 5e€tien 55{5}. Such enquiry can be aeflducted orfely by thfi registering authority, where the vehicle i§ normally keE]t, and the zfflRE±#mR:anRE] Wfi "®.2243#019 & fionn.cases
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Said authority will have the jiferi§dift3an to fanc€I the regi5tratian. Qm£`e Such am 8FTtiEr is pEs+g£¢, £ance!!ation af Eettifi€3te Qf megi5tratiofl and enter grelating to tbe motor vehicle from the register carl be ffiadE Em!y by tftg original registering autftfirit¥¥ 20, ln the lighfe ®f the aforesaid di§cu§sion, we Bne '®f tthe view that the !eamed Single I,udge ava§ net ju5tifled jm @mwimg ,a£ a con€lusifem that #hB TraF!§poit Autftorities Of EtBte af iferala tan Only contiuct aft enguiry and if it is found £'hat the rE€crd of' fthe very regi5tra#idn i+5 vitiated* report c+an be ifermarde¢ to the Sriginal regifiterimg authority under 5t55{5} and it ig for tfaa g.aid aerfftofifty tn ctrmd«ct enquiry afltl €an€el the` Fegi5tratJon€ An agrpamaftt m£5tate tfe3t ELa5 arisen im the matter is Bn the understanding Of the words #mgking an Order ®f fan€eilaEitin! and fanEal!ing the `eeri:ificate ®f registffi#ion and the entry relating to tfte motor ¥ehicfe' in its records. An cider ,of Ean€ellatitln Can be madf by any registering authority if it is §ati§fied that any of thca gitu`ati®ns as de§crjfoed und'er Sub-section {5} cf S,55 is broutght tfty the notice of the, fEgi'gterimg amthBrity an.d if he is satisfied Qn enquiry that su€fu a canditi®n exists. Once the Srder `of €an€ellatiori j§, mEd©j it ,§inall be forwarded t8 the `Bffiginal registering autife©rity t8 £mafty!`e that authority ife 'c@mcel t'h& £#3R.:RE:4263l WA No]2242ra`01g & conm.€a5es
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Certificate of registrati®n' `and tfue ten±ry relatifig to the motor vehiclet in its reEfirds.
In tfroe result, the appeals any al!owa`d setting as'jde fh`e j'udgment of `the lEameH ,Single Judge to the !imifed extent as discu5§ed earlier, tsdl -
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