Court Orders Registration of 41 Vehicles After 12 Years!

News Today: Court Orders 41 Assembled Vehicles Registration

After 12 years of legal battles, the Court of Appeal has ordered the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic to register 41 assembled motor vehicles. This Writ of Mandamus was issued after 42 petitioners filed a petition seeking the registration of their vehicles under the Motor Traffic Act. The petitioners requested the court to enforce the Cabinet decision and adhere to a previous Supreme Court judgment to register their vehicles. As per the court’s directive, the Commissioner General must complete the registration of these vehicles within two months. Additionally, the Commissioner General is required to pay each petitioner Rs. 10,000 as legal costs.

In another related case, Vehicles Lanka Private Limited filed a Fundamental Rights application concerning the assembly and registration of vehicles using used parts. The Supreme Court, on September 13, 2012, ruled that Vehicles Lanka Private Limited could register its business of assembling vehicles under Section 241 of the Motor Traffic Act. The court observed that the petitioners had invested substantial sums in purchasing the vehicles in question. Justice Mohammad Laffar noted that the failure to register these vehicles would prevent their use on Sri Lankan roads.

Despite the Supreme Court judgment, the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic failed to register these vehicles over the past 12 years, without providing any valid reason. A Cabinet decision dated November 09, 2016, further directed the Commissioner General to register 2,250 assembled vehicles from Vehicles Lanka Private Limited within three years. A subsequent letter dated 25.10.2012 confirmed that the Commissioner General would adhere to the Supreme Court judgment and allow the assembly of vehicles using secondhand parts from November 01, 2012, onwards.

Based on the Supreme Court ruling, the petitioners purchased their vehicles from Vehicles Lanka Private Limited, expecting the company to handle the registration process. However, the delay in registration led to the legal action being taken by the petitioners. Senior Counsel Sandamal Rajapaksha, along with Lakmal Sooriyagoda, represented the petitioners, while Deputy Solicitor General Manohara Jayasinghe represented the Attorney General.

This recent court decision brings hope to the petitioners, allowing them to finally use their vehicles on the roads of Sri Lanka. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to legal decisions and ensuring that administrative bodies fulfill their duties.