Ranjeet Singh v. Permanent Lok Adalat & Ors

o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHoo o o 205o o o o o o o LPA-67-2017o(O&M)o o o o o o o o Dateoofodecision:o13.10.2025o o RanjeetoSinghoo o o o ...Appellanto o o o Versuso o PermanentoLokoAdalat,oPublicoUtilityoServices,oSirsaoandootherso o o ...Respondentso o o o o o CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoHARSIMRANoSINGHoSETHIo o o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVIKASoSURIo o o Present:o Mr.oS.S.oBrar,oAdvocateoforotheoappellant.oo o o o Ms.oAnuoPal,oAddl.oA.G.oHaryana.oo o o o Mr.oSaurabhoSavara,oAdvocateoforoo Mr.oPunitoJain,oAdvocateofororespondentoNo.2.oo oo o o o o o o o *****o o VIKASoSURI,oJ.o

1.o o Thisointra-courtoappealounderoclauseoXoofotheoLettersoPatent,o assailsotheojudgmentodatedo20.07.2016opassedobyotheolearnedoSingleoJudge,o dismissingotheowritopetitionowhileoupholdingotheoorderodatedo15.02.2016o passedobyotheoPermanentoLokoAdalat,oPublicoUtilityoServices,oSirsao(foro shorto'PLAo(PUS)',owherebyotheoapplicationofiledobyotheoappellantoundero Sectiono 22-Co ofo theo Legalo Serviceso Authorityo Act,o 1987o (hereinaftero referredotooaso'theoActoofo1987')oforosettlementoofodisputeoarisingofromoano insuranceopolicy,owasodismissed.oo

2.o o Succinctly,o theo appellanto hado purchasedo Mahindrao &o MahindraoScorpioovehicleoono14.02.2014,owhichowasoassignedotemporaryo registrationo No.HR-99-PM/2744.o Theo vehicleo waso insuredo w.e.f.o o -2-o o o

14.02.2014o too 13.02.2015o byo respondento No.2o (TATAo AIGo Generalo InsuranceoCompanyoLtd.).oo

2.2o o TheovehicleowasopartlyofinancedobyoMahindraoandoMahindrao Financialo Serviceso Ltdo (respondento No.3).o Aftero completiono ofo financeo paperowork,otheoauthorizedodealeroofotheovehicleodeliveredotheopossessiono alongowithobilloono25.02.2014.oo

2.3o o Onotheointerveningonightoofo26/27.04.2014,otheovehicleowaso stolenoandouponointimationoofotheotheftobeingogivenotootheopolice,oFIRo No.427odatedo05.05.2014ounderoSectiono379oIPC,oagainstounknownopersono wasoregistered.oo

2.4o o Thereafter,o permanento registrationo No.HR-24P/5756o waso assignedotootheovehicleoandotheoregistrationocertificateodatedo28.04.2014o (AnnexureoP-2)owasoissued,owhichoisovalidouptoo24.02.2029.oo

2.5o o Theoappellantolodgedoaoclaimowithotheorespondentoinsuranceo companyobasedoonotheountracedoreportogivenobyotheopoliceoauthorities.oTheo insuranceoclaimoofotheoappellantowasorepudiatedobyotheoinsuranceocompanyo ono theo groundo thato theo termso ando conditionso ofo theo insuranceo policyo (AnnexureoP-1)ohadobeenoviolated,oinasmuchoasoduringotheocurrencyoofo temporaryoregistration,owhichowasovalidoonlyoforo30odays,onooapplicationo foropermanentoregistrationoofotheovehicleohadobeenomade;oandotheoincidento ofo thefto haso takeno placeo aftero theo expiryo ofo theo temporaryo registrationo certificateoandobeforeoanoapplicationoforopermanentoregistrationocouldohaveo beenomade.oo

3.o o Theoappellant,oaggrievedobyotheorepudiationoofohisoinsuranceo claim,o filedo ao petitiono undero Sectiono 22-Co ofo theo Acto ofo 1987o foro o -3-o o o settlementoofodisputeoarisingofromotheoinsuranceopolicyo(AnnexureoP-1)o andotheoclaimomadeothereunder,owithoregardotootheoreportedotheftoofotheo vehicle,o whicho ledo too registrationo ofo suprao FIR.o Theo PLAo (PUS),o dismissedotheosaidopetition,ovideoawardodatedo15.02.2016o(AnnexureoP-6).oo

4.o o Beingoaggrieved,otheoappellantoinvokedojurisdictionobyowayoofo civilo writo petitiono undero Articleo 226/227o ofo theo Constitutiono ofo India,o whichowasoassignedoNo.CWP-13296-2016.oo

4.1o o TheosupraowritopetitionowasodismissedobyotheolearnedoSingleo Judgeovideojudgmentodatedo20.07.2016,owhileoreferringotootheostatutoryo provisionsocontainedounderoSectionso39oando43oofotheoMotoroVehiclesoAct,o 1988o(forobrevityo'MVoAct'),oandoplacingorelianceouponotheodecisionoino Narindero Singho vs.o Newo Indiao Assuranceo Companyo Ltd.o ando others,o

(2014)o9oSCCo324.oo

5.o o Stilloaggrieved,otheoappellantohasoassailedotheojudgmentodatedo

20.07.2016othroughotheoinstantolettersopatentoappeal.oo

5.1o o Upono noticeo ofo theo appeal,o respondento No.2o enteredo appearanceothroughocounseloandohasoopposedotheosame,owhileodefendingo theojudgmentopassedobyotheolearnedoSingleoJudgeoasowelloasothatobyotheo PLAo(PUS).oRespondentoNo.1o[PLAo(PUS)]oisoaoproformaorespondent.o Theofinancialoinstitutiono(respondentoNo.3)othatohadoissuedotheoloanoforotheo purposeoofopurchaseoofotheovehicle,owasoorderedotoobeostruckooffofromotheo arrayooforespondents,ovideoorderodatedo04.03.2022.oHence,otheoinsuranceo companyo (respondento No.2)o iso theo onlyo contestingo respondento ino theo instantoappeal.oo o -4-o o o

6.o o Learnedocounseloforotheoappellantosubmitsothatotheojudgmento uponowhichorelianceohasobeenoplacedobyoPLAo(PUS)oasowelloasobyotheo learnedoSingleoJudgeoisonotoapplicableoinotheopresentocase.oItoisofurthero submittedothatoinoNarinderoSingh'socaseo(supra),otheovehicleowasobeingo 'driven'owithoutopermanentoregistration,oasocontemplatedounderoSectiono39o ofotheoMVoAct.oInotheopresentocase,otheoappellantowasonotousingotheosaido vehicleoandoitowasoparkedooutsideohisohouse.oMoreover,opriorotootheotheft,o theo appellanto hado alreadyo goto theo vehicleo inspectedo fromo theo authorityo concernedoforotheorequisiteocertificationoinoFormo20oofotheoCentraloMotoro VehiclesoRules,o1989o(foroshorto'theoRules').oThus,oheohadoonlyotoosubmito theo necessaryo documentationo aftero payingo theo requisiteo lateo feeo foro permanento registration,o whicho waso doneo ono 28.04.2014.o Ito iso furthero submittedo thato theo vehicleo ino questiono haso beeno issuedo permanento registrationo certificateo valido fromo 28.04.2014o uptoo 24.02.2029,o ino accordanceowithotheostatutoryoprovisionsoandohence,othereowasonooviolationo ofo anyo ofo theo termso ofo theo policy,o aso such.o Relianceo iso placedo ono theo judgmento ino Relianceo Generalo Insuranceo Companyo Ltd.o vs.o Rakesho Kumaroandoanother,oreportedoino2016(2)oPLRo594.oo

7.o o Pero contra,o learnedo counselo foro respondento No.2-insuranceo companyo submittedo thato theo vehicleo cano beo driveno onlyo aftero propero registrationoandoinotheopresentocase,otheovehicleowasobeingousedowithouto registration,o whicho iso ao punishableo offenceo undero theo MVo Act.o Theo applicationoforopermanentoregistrationowasonotomadeowithinotheovalidityoofo theo temporaryo registrationo ando waso appliedo onlyo aftero itso expiry.o Ito iso furtherosubmittedothatoinotermsoofoSectiono43(2)oofotheoMVoAct,oasoitostoodo o -5-o o o priorotootheoamendmentomadeobyotheoMotoroVehicleso(Amendment)oAct,o 2019o (Centralo Acto No.o 32o ofo 2019)o w.e.f.o 01.04.2021,o theo temporaryo registrationowasovalidoonlyoforoaoperiodonotoexceedingooneomonthoandowaso noto renewable.o Ito iso furthero submittedo thato ino Rakesho Kumar'so caseo (supra),otheojudgmentorenderedobyotheoHon'bleoApexoCourtoinoNarindero Singh'so caseo (supra)o haso noto beeno considered.o Relianceo iso placedo ono UnitedoIndiaoInsuranceoCompanyoLimitedovs.oSushiloKumaroGodara,o

(2021)o14oSCCo519,owhereinotheoratiooofoNarinderoSingh'socaseo(supra)o hasobeenoapplied.oo

8.o o Weohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoandowithotheiro ableoassistanceoperusedotheocaseofile.oo

9.o o Indisputably,o theo appellanto policyo holdero hado purchasedo ao newo vehicleo ono 14.02.2014,o whicho hado ao temporaryo registration.o Aftero completingo theo necessaryo formalities,o theo applicationo foro permanento registrationowasomadeoono28.04.2014,ohowever,otheovehicleoinoquestiono wasostolenofromooutsideotheohouseoofotheopolicyoholderoonotheointerveningo nightoofo26/27.04.2014.oTheopermanentoregistrationocertificateowasoissuedo witho validityo fromo 28.04.2014o uptoo 24.02.2029o ando waso assignedo registrationonumberoHR-24-P/5756.oo

9.1o o Inotheopresentocase,otheoinsurableoincidentotookoplaceoino2014o andotheoprovisionsoofolaw,oasoapplicableoduringotheosaidoperiodoneedotoobeo noticed.oForoproperoappreciation,oSectionso39oando43,oasotheyostoodoprioro too beingo amendedo byo theo Centralo Acto No.32o ofo 2019,o areo reproducedo hereunder:-o o -6-o o o "39.Necessityo foro registration.―Noo persono shallo driveoanyomotorovehicleoandonooowneroofoaomotorovehicleo shallocauseooropermitotheovehicleotoobeodrivenoinoanyopublico placeooroinoanyootheroplaceounlessotheovehicleoisoregisteredoino accordanceo witho thiso Chaptero ando theo certificateo ofo registrationo ofo theo vehicleo haso noto beeno suspendedo oro cancelledo ando theo vehicleo carrieso ao registrationo marko displayedoinotheoprescribedomanner:o Providedothatonothingoinothisosectionoshalloapplyotooao motoro vehicleo ino possessiono ofo ao dealero subjecto too sucho conditionsoasomayobeoprescribedobyotheoCentraloGovernment.o ***o

43.Temporaryo registration.―(1)o Notwithstandingo anythingo containedo ino Sectiono 40o theo ownero ofo ao motoro vehicleo mayo applyo too anyo registeringo authorityo oro othero prescribedo authorityo too haveo theo vehicleo temporarilyo registeredoinotheoprescribedomanneroandoforotheoissueoinotheo prescribedomanneroofoaotemporaryocertificateooforegistrationo andoaotemporaryoregistrationomark.o

(2)o Ao registrationo madeo undero thiso sectiono shallo beo validoonlyoforoaoperiodonotoexceedingooneomonth,oandoshallo notobeorenewable:o Providedothatowhereoaomotorovehicleosooregisteredoisoao chassisotoowhichoaobodyohasonotobeenoattachedoandotheosameo iso detainedo ino ao workshopo beyondo theo saido periodo ofo oneo montho foro beingo fittedo witho ao bodyo oro anyo unforeseeno circumstancesobeyondotheocontroloofotheoowner,otheoperiodo may,oonopaymentoofosuchofees,oifoany,oasomayobeoprescribed,o beo extendedo byo sucho furthero periodo oro periodso aso theo registeringo authorityo oro othero prescribedo authority,o aso theo caseomayobe,omayoallow.o

(3)oInoaocaseowhereotheomotorovehicleoisoheldoundero hire-purchaseo agreement,o leaseo oro hypothecation,o theo o -7-o o o registeringoauthorityoorootheroprescribedoauthorityoshalloissueo aotemporaryocertificateooforegistrationoofosuchovehicle,owhicho shalloincorporateolegiblyoandoprominentlyotheofullonameoando addressoofotheopersonowithowhomosuchoagreementohasobeeno enteredointoobyotheoowner."o o

10.o o AobareoperusaloofoSectiono39oshowsothatonoopersonoshallodriveo aomotorovehicleoinoanyopublicoplaceowithoutoaovalidoregistrationograntedobyo theoregisteringoauthorityoinoaccordanceowithotheoprovisionsoofoMVoAct.o AccordingotootheoprovisionsoofoSectiono43,otheoowneroofotheovehicleomayo applyo too theo registeringo authorityo foro temporaryo registrationo ando ao temporaryoregistrationomark.oIfosuchotemporaryoregistrationoisograntedobyo theoauthority,oitoshallobeovalidoonlyoforoaoperiodonotoexceedingooneomonth.o TheoprovisootooSectiono43ofurtheroclarifiesothatotheosaidoperiodomayobeo extendedoforosuchofurtheroperiodobyotheoregisteringoauthorityoonlyoifotheo conditionso stipulatedo thereino areo satisfied.o Sectiono 41o provideso theo procedureo foro registrationo ando theo relevanto provisionso thereofo areo reproducedohereunderofororeference:-o "41.o Registration,o howo too beo made.―(1)o Ano applicationobyooroonobehalfoofotheoowneroofoaomotorovehicleo foro registrationo shallo beo ino sucho formo ando shallo beo accompaniedo byo sucho documents,o particularso ando informationoandoshallobeomadeowithinosuchoperiodoasomayobeo prescribedobyotheoCentraloGovernment:o o Providedothatowhereoaomotorovehicleoisojointlyoownedo byomoreopersonsothanoone,otheoapplicationoshallobeomadeobyo oneoofothemoonobehalfoofoallotheoownersoandosuchoapplicanto shallobeodeemedotoobeotheoowneroofotheomotorovehicleoforotheo purposesoofothisoAct.o o -8-o o o o (2)oAnoapplicationoreferredotooinosub-sectiono(1)oshallo beoaccompaniedobyosuchofeeoasomayobeoprescribedobyotheo CentraloGovernment."o ***oo o "(11)oIfotheoownerofailsotoomakeoanoapplicationoundero sub-sectiono(1),oor,oasotheocaseomayobe,ounderosub-sectiono(8)o withinotheoperiodoprescribed,otheoregisteringoauthorityomay,o havingoregardotootheocircumstancesoofotheocase,orequireotheo ownerotoopay,oinolieuoofoanyoactionothatomayobeotakenoagainsto himo undero sectiono 177,o sucho amounto noto exceedingo oneo hundredo rupeeso aso mayo beo prescribedo undero sub-o sectiono

(13):o o Providedothatoactionounderosectiono177oshallobeotakeno againsto theo ownero whereo theo ownero failso too payo theo saido amount.o o (12)oWhereotheoownerohasopaidotheoamountounderosub-sectiono (11),o noo actiono shallo beo takeno againsto himo undero sectiono177.o o (13)oForotheopurposesoofosub-sectiono(11),otheoStateo Governmentomayoprescribeodifferentoamountsohavingoregardo tootheoperiodoofodelayoonotheopartoofotheoowneroinomakingoano applicationounderosub-sectiono(1)oorosub-sectiono(8)."o o o

11.o o TheoonlyoissueoarisingoforoconsiderationoisowhetherotheoPLAo

(PUS)o ando theo learnedo Singleo Judgeo wereo correcto ino holdingo thato theo appellantoisonotoentitledotooclaimocompensationoforodamagesoinorespectoofo theotheftoofotheovehicle,owhichowasoparkedooutsideotheoappellant'sohouseoono theogroundothatoonotheodateoofotheotheft,otheovehicleodidonotohaveoaovalido registrationoasocontemplatedounderotheoprovisionsoofoSectionso39oando43oofo theoMVoAct.o

12.o o Theo factso areo noto ino dispute.o Concededly,o theo vehicleo waso insuredoforotheoperiodofromo14.02.2014otoo13.02.2015.oTheonewovehicleo o -9-o o o waso assignedo ao temporaryo registrationo certificateo ando ao temporaryo registrationomark.oUponotheoappellantoapplyingoforopermanentoregistration,o theosameowasoacceptedoandoaopermanentoregistrationomarkowasoassignedotoo theosaidovehicle.oAocopyoofotheoregistrationocertificateohasobeenoplacedoono recordo aso Annexureo P-2,o whicho showso thato theo sameo iso valido fromo

28.04.2014otoo24.02.2029oandowasoissuedoono28.04.2014,oi.e.otheoveryonexto dayoafterotheotheft.oo

13.o o Learnedocounseloforotheoappellantohasostrenuouslyocontendedo thato theo vehicleo waso noto beingo 'driven';o ando pendingo permanento registration,owasoparkedooutsideotheoappellant'sohouseofromowhereoitowaso stolen.oItoisoarguedothatoSectiono39oofotheoMVoActocastsorestrictionsoonlyo onodrivingoaovehicleounlessoitoisodulyoregistered.oAovehicle,owhichoisonoto beingousedoandoisomerelyoparkedocannotobeodeemedotoohaveocontravenedo theostatutoryoprovisionsocontainedounderoSectiono39oofotheoActoibid.oItoiso furtherocontendedothatotheoLokoAdalatoandotheolearnedoSingleoJudgeohaso notocorrectlyoappreciatedotheojudgmentorenderedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeo CourtoinoNarinderoSingh'socaseo(supra).oo

14.o o Ino Narindero Singh'so caseo (supra),o theo claimo waso ino theo contextoofoanoaccident,oinvolvingoaovehicle,otheotemporaryoregistrationoofo whichohadoexpired.oItowasoheldobyotheoHon'bleoApexoCourtothatotheoinsurero wasonotoliableoandoinothatocontext,oobservedoasounder:-o "9.ooWeohaveoperusedotheoorderopassedobyotheothreeo forums.oTheoonlyoissueoforoconsiderationois,oasotoowhethero theoNationaloCommissionoisocorrectoinolawoinoholdingothato theo appellanto iso noto entitledo too claimo compensationo foro damageo ino respecto ofo theo vehicleo wheno admittedlyo theo vehicleowasobeingodrivenoonotheodateoofoaccidentowithoutoanyo o -10-o o o validoregistrationoasocontemplatedounderotheoprovisionso ofo Sectiono39oandoSectiono43oofotheoMotoroVehiclesoAct."o "12.oo Indisputably,o ao temporaryo registrationo waso grantedo ino respecto ofo theo vehicleo ino question,o whicho hado expiredoono11-1-2006oandotheoallegedoaccidentotookoplaceoono 2-2-2006o wheno theo vehicleo waso withouto anyo registration.o Nothingo haso beeno broughto ono recordo byo theo appellanto too showo thato beforeo oro aftero 11-1-2006,o wheno theo periodo ofo temporaryoregistrationoexpired,otheoappellant,oowneroofotheo vehicle,o eithero appliedo foro permanento registrationo aso contemplatedo undero Sectiono 39o ofo theo Acto oro madeo anyo applicationoforoextensionoofoperiodoasotemporaryoregistrationo ono theo groundo ofo someo specialo reasons.o Ino ouro view,o therefore,ousingo aovehicleoonotheopublicoroadowithoutoanyo registrationoisonotoonlyoanooffenceopunishableounderoSectiono 192o ofo theo Motoro Vehicleso Acto buto alsoo ao fundamentalo breachoofotheotermsoandoconditionsoofopolicyocontract."o o

15.o o Ino Sushilo Kumaro Godarao (supra),o theo claimo waso ino theo contexto ofo thefto ofo ao vehicle,o theo temporaryo registrationo ofo whicho hado expired,ofromoaoplaceoinoaodifferentocity,otoowhereoitohadobeenodriven.oo ApplyingotheoratiooofoNarinderoSingh'socaseo(supra),otheiroLordshipsoofo theoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoheldoasounder:-o "14.oInotheopresentocase,otheotemporaryoregistrationoofo theorespondent'sovehicleohadoexpiredoono28-7-2011.oNotoonlyo wasotheovehicleodriven,obutoalsootakenotooanotherocity,owhereo ito waso stationedo overnighto ino ao placeo othero thano theo respondent'sopremises.oThereoisonothingoonorecordotoosuggesto thatotheorespondentohadoappliedofororegistrationoorothatoheo waso awaitingo registration.o Ino theseo circumstances,o theoratiooofoNarinderoSingho[(2014)o9oSCCo324]oapplies,oino theo opiniono ofo thiso Court.o ThatoNarindero Singho[(2014)o 9o SCCo324]owasoinotheocontextoofoanoaccident,oisoimmaterial.o Despiteothis,otheorespondentopliedohisovehicleoandotookoitotoo o -11-o o o Jodhpur,owhereotheotheftotookoplace.oItoisoofonooconsequence,o thatotheocarowasonotoplyingoonotheoroad,owhenoitowasostolen;o theo materialo facto iso thato concededly,o ito waso driveno too theo placeofromowhereoitowasostolen,oafterotheoexpiryoofotemporaryo registration.o Buto foro itso theft,o theo respondento wouldo haveo drivenobackotheovehicle.oWhatoisoimportantoisothisoCourt'so opiniono ofo theo law,o thato wheno ano insurableo incidento thato potentiallyo resultso ino liabilityo occurs,o thereo shouldo beo noo fundamentalo breacho ofo theo conditionso containedo ino theo contractoofoinsurance.oTherefore,oonotheodateoofotheft,otheo vehicleo hado beeno driven/usedo withouto ao valido registration,o amountingotooaoclearoviolationoofoSectionso39oando192oofotheo MotoroVehiclesoAct,o1988."o o

16.o o AoconspectusoofotheoaboveoisothatoSectiono39oofotheoMVoActo prohibitsoaomotorovehicleofromobeingodriven,ounlessotheosameoisoregistered.o However,otheosaidoprovisionoisosilentoregardingomereopossessionoofosucho vehicle,oifoitoisonotobeingodrivenooroused,oi.e.oifoitoisoparkedoinoaowarehouse,o garage,oorootheroavailableoregularoplaceoofoparking.oo

17.o o Inotheocaseoatohand,onoomaterialohasobeenoplacedobeforeousonoro anyo haso beeno referredo too byo learnedo counselo foro theo respondents,o too impressouponothisoCourtothatotheovehicleoinoquestionowasobeingodrivenooro used,oinocontraventionoofotheostatutoryoprovisions.oThus,olearnedocounselo forotheorespondentsoareonotoinoaopositionotoodisputeothatotheofactualoaspecto noticedo hereinaboveo haso noto eveno beeno contestedo byo filingo appropriateo pleadings/evidence.o Ino theo absenceo ofo theo vehicleo ino questiono beingo driven/used,onooprovisionoofolawoisoshownotoohaveobeenoviolatedoandoaso such,onootermsoofoinsuranceopolicy,oinothatoregard,oareoshownotoohaveobeeno breached.oo o -12-o o o

18.o o Itowouldoalsoobeogainfulotooreferotootheoobservationsomadeoino Narindero Singh'so caseo (supra),o whereino aftero theo periodo ofo temporaryo registrationohadoexpired,oinotheosaidocase,otheoowneroofotheovehicleohado neitheroappliedoforopermanentoregistrationonoromadeoanyoapplicationoforo extensiono ofo periodo ono theo groundo ofo someo specialo reasons.o Theo saido situationodoesonotoariseoinotheopresentocaseoasotheoappellant,oi.e.oowneroofo theovehicle,ohadonotoonlyotakenostepsoforotheoregistrationoofotheovehicleobuto theoregistrationocertificateowasoalsooissuedopursuantotoosuchoapplicationo madeoono28.04.2014.oTheoprocessoalsoomandatesoprioroinspectionoofotheo vehicleoforoobtainingotheorequisiteocertificateoinoFormo20oofotheoRules.oTheo relevantoportionoofotheosaidoForm,oisoreproducedohereunder:o o "CERTIFICATEoOFoINSPECTIONoOFoMOTORoVEHICLEo Certifiedo thato theo particularso containedo ino theo applicationoareotrueoandothatotheovehicleocompliesowithotheo requirementsoofotheoMotoroVehicleoAct,o1988,oandotheoRuleso madeothereunder.o Dateo.............o o o o ...........................o Ref.oNo.o............o SignatureoofotheoInspectingoAuthorityo Name..................................................o Designation......................................o OfficeoEndorsemento Officeoofotheo................"o o o

19.o o Moreover,oaoperusaloofosub-sectionso11otoo13oofoSectiono41oofo theoMVoActowouldoshowothatotheoapplicationofororegistrationoofopermanento registrationo cano beo madeo eveno aftero theo periodo prescribed,o subjecto too paymentoofotheoprescribedofee.oSectiono41(12)ofurtherostipulatesothatoupono suchopaymentounderosub-sectiono11,onooactionoshallobeotakenoagainstotheo owneroofotheovehicleoinoquestionounderoSectiono177oofotheoActoibid.oTheo o -13-o o o vehicleo ino questiono havingo beeno registeredo ando assignedo permanento registrationo marko ando issuedo ao registrationo certificateo valido fromo

28.04.2014o too 24.02.2029,o ito wouldo beo safeo too infero unlesso contraryo iso shown,o thato theo sameo waso doneo onlyo aftero makingo dueo complianceo ofo Sectiono41oandotheoRulesoframedoinothatoregard.oInotheolightoofotheoabove,o Narindero Singh'so caseo (supra)o iso distinguishableo ono factso ando noto applicableotootheoinstantocase.oo

20.o o Havingogivenoourothoughtfuloconsiderationotootheodecisionoofo theolearnedosingleoJudgeoofothisoCourtoinoRakeshoKumar'socaseo(supra)o whichowasoaobindingoprecedentoforoPLAo(PUS),oandoinotheoabsenceoofoanyo materialobroughtotootheonoticeoofothisoCourtothatotheovehicleoinoquestiono wasobeingodriven/used,oweoareoinoagreementowithotheoreasoningorecordedo therein.oTheorelevantoportionoofotheosaidojudgmentoisoextractedohereunder,o fororeference:o "Theo facto thato respondento No.o 1o purchasedo newo Boleroocar,owhichowasoinsuredowithotheopetitioner-companyo foro theo periodo fromo 19.09.2007o too 18.09.2008o iso noto ino dispute.oFurther,oitoiso notoinodisputeothatoito wasostolenoono

02.01.2008.oFororejectingotheoclaim,otheopetitionerosoughtotoo raiseo ano issueo thato ono thato dateo theo vehicleo waso noto registered.o Sectiono 39o ofo theo Acto waso referredo to,o whicho makesoregistrationoofoaovehicleomandatoryoforoplyingoonotheo road.oItoisonotoinodisputeothatotheovehicleoinotheopresentocaseo wasonotobeingopliedoonoroadoasoitowasoaocaseoofotheft."o o

21.o o Inotheolightoofotheoaforesaidodiscussion,otheopresentointra-courto appealoisoallowed.oResultantly,otheoimpugnedojudgmentodatedo20.07.2016o dismissingo CWP-13296-2016o aso wello aso theo awardo datedo 15.02.2016o o -14-o o o passedobyoPLAo(PUS)oareosetoaside.oTheoinsuranceoclaimoapplicationofiledo byotheowritopetitioner/appellantoisoallowedotootheoextentothatotheoinsuranceo companyo(respondentoNo.2)oisoheldoliableotooindemnifyotheoappellantoforo theotheftoofotheovehicle,oifonotobarredobyoanyootheroprovisionoofolaw.oAsotheo presentoinsuranceoclaimopertainsotootheoyearo2014oandomoreothano11oyearso haveolapsed,otheoinsuranceocompanyoisodirectedotoodisposeoofotheosuprao insuranceoclaimoapplication,oinoaccordanceowitholaw,owithinoaoperiodoofo twoomonthsofromotoday.oo

22.o o Theo Lettero Patento Appealo iso disposedo ofo ino theo aforesaido terms.oo o o o o oo(HARSIMRANoSINGHoSETHI)o ooooooooooooooo(VIKASoSURI)o oooooooooooJUDGEo oooooooooooo o oooooooooooJUDGEo o o o

13.10.2025o o sumit.ko o o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo:o o Yesoo Noo o WhetheroReportableo:o o o Yeso Noo o