THE RIVER STEAM NAVIGATION CO., LT.D vs SHYAM SUNDAR TEA CO., LTD.

The Supreme Court ruled that the determination of whether a carrier is a common carrier depends on its public profession, which can be established through public notice or conduct, as per the Carriers Act, 1865, Section 2. The Court affirmed the High Court's decision that the steamer companies, which publicly professed to be common carriers in the main stream and accepted goods for carriage by boats in tributaries, were liable for the loss of goods during transit. The Court held that the nature of the feeder service did not negate their status as common carriers, regardless of profitability or regularity of service.