RUBEESH SHAMSUDHEEN Vs. JOINT REGIONAL TRANSPORT OFFICER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is the registered owner of a contract carriage bearing registration No.KL-46G-3339 and he is aggrieved by the demand of motor vehicle tax for the said vehicle. The reliefs sought by the petitioner in the writ petition are as follows:

(2.) The facts that led to the filing of this writ petition are as follows:

(3.) Later, the petitioner was issued with Ext.P1 notice by the financier, intimating that the vehicle was sold to a third person for a sale consideration of Rs.4,00,000.00 on 31/5/2022 and after adjusting the said amount towards the liability of the petitioner, an amount of Rs.16,47,985.00 was demanded as the balance amount outstanding. An objection was submitted by the petitioner before the 1strespondent against such transfer as per Ext.P2 and acting upon Ext.P2, the 1strespondent blacklisted the vehicle. According to the petitioner, the tax for the vehicle was paid only till 31/3/2020 and the fitness certificate expired on 20/10/2022. As the petitioner apprehended that the tax liability would be mulcted upon the petitioner, despite the fact that the vehicle was taken possession by the 3rdrespondent financier, this writ petition was filed by the petitioner seeking the reliefs referred to above.