The Kerala High Court held that under Section 50 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the registered owner of a vehicle is liable to compensate accident victims, even if the vehicle was allegedly transferred before the accident, unless formal ownership transfer is completed. In this case, Abdul Khader appealed against a compensation award after a fatal accident, claiming he had transferred the vehicle and obtained an indemnity bond. The Court clarified that the “owner” is the person in whose name the vehicle stands registered, prioritizing victim protection. Informal transfers or indemnity bonds do not absolve liability. However, the registered owner can recover the compensation amount with interest from the actual transferee through due legal process, ensuring fairness while safeguarding victims’ rights.