LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the excise and taxation authorities to refrain from transferring the ownership of any vehicle implicated in a criminal case or classified as case property.
The court directed the concerned authorities to observe a thorough verification of the vehicle’s status before initiating any ownership transfer and mandate the submission of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the police or an affidavit affirming the nonchalant of vehicle in criminal proceedings.
The court passed this order on a petition of Muhammad Riaz who approached the court against the decision of a trial court declining to hand over him the motorcar seized in a narcotic case.
The court observed that the transfer of ownership of a vehicle seized in connection with a narcotics case, after it has been declared case property, strongly suggests malafide intent and also undermines the judicial process.
The court said this act raises serious concerns about the bonafide of the parties involved as it undermines the integrity of the investigation and the preservation of evidence.
By strictly adhering to the legal protocols and verifying the status of such vehicles, the concerned departments can prevent their resources from being misused in a manner that facilitates unlawful acts, the court added.
The court also remarked that concerned departments must remain vigilant to ensure that their processes are not exploited to legitimise such transactions, as doing so could inadvertently aid in frustrating the course of justice.
The court observed that the excise and taxation department bears a crucial responsibility to uphold the law and must exercise due diligence to prevent being complicit in any illegality, particularly in facilitating the transfer of ownership of vehicles involved in criminal activities.
The court said, the appellant’s counsel frankly concedes that the motorcar in question was transferred in the name of the appellant after registration of the FIR.
The court; therefore, dismissed the petition and referred the matter back to the Motor Registration Authority for corrective action under the law.
The court also observed that in this case, the registration of the vehicle in favour of the appellant was unlawful as clear directions of the Supreme Court (SC) have been disregarded by the excise and taxation department.
The court held that under Article 190 of the Constitution, every state functionary is constitutionally bound to comply with the orders of the SC.
The court; therefore, sent the copy of the order to the concerned authorities for due compliance and added this direction is essential to preserve the administration of justice and to prevent any tampering with or compromise of crucial evidence.
The court also warned that any lapse or negligence in this regard shall not be condoned in the future.
The court also referred the orders to the Secretary, Excise, Taxation, and Narcotics Control Department, Government of Punjab, and the Provincial Police Officer, Punjab to ensure strict compliance with the directions issued by the SC in the case of Amjad Ali Khan.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026