Driver Liability for Tortious Vehicle Damage

The case involved a dispute over the liability of an individual who caused damage while driving a vehicle that was not registered in their name, leading the lower court to reject a claim for damages by invoking the principle of a relative effect of contracts, suggesting only the registered owner could be held liable. The high court quashed this decision, reasoning that the obligation to repair damage caused by a vehicle is a matter of tort liability, which attaches to the person who caused the damage, irrespective of the property ownership or registration of the vehicle, thereby affirming that the driver, not just the owner, can be held responsible for traffic-related harm.