Forklifts and Cranes Inside Factory Are Motor Vehicles: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court ruled that forklifts and cranes operated exclusively within factory premises are still “motor vehicles” under Section 2(28) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and must therefore be registered under Section 39.

The Court emphasised that the decisive factor is whether the machine is mechanically propelled and capable of being driven on roads, not whether it is actually used on public roads.

Since the equipment had tyres, steering and braking systems, it was road-adaptable and fell within the Act’s ambit. The Court further held that factory premises accessible to workers and visitors constitute a “public place” under Section 2(34). The petition was dismissed.