Motor Vehicles Act
Parliament of India
CitationNo 59 OF 1988
Territorial extentWhole of India, including the State of Jammu and Kashmir
Enacted byParliament of India
Enacted1988
Signed byRamaswamy Venkataraman
Commenced1 July 1989
Amended by
  1. Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019
Related legislation
Motor Vehicles Act, 1914
Status: In force

The Motor Vehicles Act is an Act of the Parliament of India which regulates all aspects of road transport vehicles. The Act provides in detail the legislative provisions regarding licensing of drivers/conductors, registration of motor vehicles, control of motor vehicles through permits, special provisions relating to state transport undertakings, traffic regulation, insurance, liability, offences and penalties, etc. For exercising the legislative provisions of the Act, the Government of India made the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989.[1]

Purpose

The main reasons behind drafting and enacting this legislation include the rapidly increasing number of vehicles in the country and the need for encouraging adoption of higher technology in the automotive sector. There also existed a need for effectively tracking down traffic offenders and providing more deterrent punishment for certain offences. There was also a growing concern for the framing of standards around vehicle components and road safety, as well as measures for pollution control. Additionally, there was a necessity for improved regulation around the registration of drivers, with there being a need for stricter protocol around granting driving licences. The system of vehicular registration also merited change, with an updated system being brought in place for registration marks, as well as for the maintenance of State registers for driving licenses and vehicle registration. The Act was also brought in to liberalise the grant of permits for vehicles carrying goods, as well as to rationalise definitions for types of vehicles.

History and Amendments

Previous Acts

Indian Motor Vehicles Act, 1914

The "Indian Motor Vehicles Act, 1914" was a central legislation passed and applicable in British India. Some princely states followed suit, with local modifications.[2] Motor vehicles were first introduced in India towards the end of the 19th century, and the 1914 Act was the first legislation to regulate their use.[3] It had 18 sections, and gave local governments the responsibility of registering and licensing vehicles and motorists, and enforcing regulations.[2]

The "Indian Motor Vehicles Act, 1914"[4] was amended by the "Indian Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 1920" (Act No. XXVII of 1920) passed by the Imperial Legislative Council. It received assent from the Governor General of India on 2 September 1920. The Act amended sections 11 and 18 of the 1914 Act.[5]

Indian Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 1924

The Act was amended again by the "Indian Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 1924" (Act No. XV of 1924). The Act received assent from the Governor General on 18 September 1924. It had the title, "An Act further to amend the Indian Motor Vehicles Act, 1914, for certain purposes" and amended section 11 of the 1914 Act by inserting the words "and the duration for which" after the words "area in which" in clause (a) of subsection (2) of section 11.[6]

It was replaced by the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939, which came into force in 1940. The motor vehicles act has again been replaced in 1988. The 1988 amendment was brought to address above mentioned statements of object and reasons.

Motor Vehicles Act,1988

The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 came into force from 1 July 1989. It replaced Motor Vehicles Act, 1939 which earlier replaced the first such enactment Motor Vehicles Act, 1914. The Act provides in detail the legislative provisions regarding licensing of drivers/conductors, registration of motor vehicles, control of motor vehicles through permits, special provisions relating to state transport undertakings, traffic regulation, insurance, liability, offences and penalties, etc.[7] For exercising the legislative provisions of the Act, the Government of India made the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989.[8]

Definitions

  • Motor vehicle: Any mechanically propelled vehicle adapted for use upon roads whether the power of propulsion is transmitted from an external or internal source of power. The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, like the earlier Act of 1939, makes the insurance of motor vehicles compulsory. The owner of every motor vehicle is bound to insure his vehicle against third party risk. The insurance company, i.e, the insurer covers risk of loss to the third party by the use of the motor vehicle.

Accident claims

There is a provision to provide ₹500,000 (US$6,300) with no upper limit, as interim relief to the family of a victim of fatal accidents. The cases of road accident compensation claims are decided in the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal.[9]

The Road Transport And Safety Bill

The Road Transport and Safety Bill, 2014 envisioned providing a framework for safer, faster, cost-effective and inclusive movement of passengers and freight in India, thus enabling the mission of 'Make In India' following the death of the union minister Gopinath Munde in 2014.

The bill proposed to set up the Motor Vehicle Regulation & Road Safety Authority of India, an independent agency for vehicle regulation and road safety which would be legally empowered and accountable to Parliament.[10]

Later due to controversies listed down in the controversies section, The bill was subsequently replaced by the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

Indian Motor Vehicles (Amendment) bill, 2017

A significant upgrade to the motor vehicle laws, it envisaged body cams on traffic cops and RTO officials to check corruption, 7-year imprisonment instead of current 2 years for drink-driving deaths, mandatory 3rd party insurance for all vehicles, and stiffer penalties for traffic violations to reduce the accident rates.[11] The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in April 2017 and sent to the Rajya Sabha, which referred it to a select committee in August 2017.[12] The bill was again scrutinized by a joint standing committee composed of Transport ministers of 18 states of India.

Due to frequent disruptions in Rajya Sabha and lack of support from Indian National Congress, the bill failed to turn into act and lapsed after the conclusion of interim budget session and on the account of general elections.

[13]

Indian Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019

This is similar to the Indian Motor Vehicles (Amendment) bill, 2017, although, introduced later in 2019 so the name. The earlier bill has lapsed at the end of the last session of 16th Lok Sabha. The bill was re-introduced in the first session of 17th Lok Sabha by union transport minister Nitin Gadkari which is then passed by both the houses before the end of the session. It came in to force on 1 September 2019, providing higher penalties for traffic offences.[14]

Implementation of the Amended Law

As per the official notification issued by the central government on 28 August 2019, the 63 clauses of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act,2019 to be implemented from 1 September 2019 as these clauses do not need any further modifications in the Central Motor Vehicles rules, 1989. These includes higher penalties for various traffic offences, national transportation policy among others.

Controversies

Tamil Nadu Government opposed the Road Transport and Safety Bill and asked centre to redraft it as bill encroaches upon the financial, legislative and administrative powers of state governments.[15][16] A nationwide strike was called by various transport unions on 30 April 2015 to protest against the bill.[17]

West Bengal's transport ministry informed the state assembly on 27 August 2019 that the amended Motor Vehicles act will not be implemented in West Bengal since the state government is against the hefty fines proposed in the act.[18]

Limited Provisions for Non-Motorized Vehicles

The Motor Vehicles Act, 2019 implemented harsher penalties on motor vehicles for traffic violations. This led to an increase in sale and use of non-motorized forms of transport, such as bicycles, especially for short commutes.[19]

The Motor Vehicles Act, however, misses out on specific rules and regulations for bicycles, even though certain guidelines and recommendations exist. Due to this, law enforcement in states and cities have made rules on their own, some of which have earned negative reception by bicyclists and transport experts - the traffic police in city of Kolkata banned bicycles on major streets since 2008, justifying that they cause traffic congestion, and that violation will lead to seizure of bicycles or penalties.[20] There have also been instances where traffic cops have used state police laws to fine bicyclists for various offenses, most of which do not conform to the Motor Vehicles Act.[21] Additionally, with the absence of rulebooks on violations committed by bicyclists like jumping red lights, abrupt lane changes, haphazard parking, stunts and rash riding, or riding on banned roads within metropolitan and suburban regions, traffic cops have either seized bicycles or deflated tires for deterrence, which have attracted criticism and ire of riders. [22][23] In event of serious offenses such as riding under influence or hit-and-run, traffic cops have taken action under respective state police laws - the riding under influence will attract a charge for causing traffic nuisance or public intoxication, though no provision exists for hit-and-run.[24][25]

Due to lack of sufficient infrastructure such as dedicated bicycle tracks or lanes, bicyclists are often at high risk when compared to motorized vehicles. Baring a few cities that have bicycle tracks, these dedicated lanes have found limited success because they are mostly in short distances, often built haphazardly and found in disrepair, or occupied by motorists who ride on them. [26] Furthermore, with unofficial bans on certain roads, where there are no signages that display no bicycles allowed, traffic cops often impose heavy penalties on bicyclists, many of them who are daily wage laborers, delivery agents, or school-going children. While an official ban on certain motor vehicles such as two and three wheelers exists on Bandra-Worli Sea Link, the Trans Harbour Link, Eastern Freeway, and the under construction Coastal Road in Mumbai, it does not explicitly mention the ban on bicycles through signages or written warnings; due to this unaware bicyclists caught riding on these roads have faced hefty penalties or bicycle seizures. [27] However, an official ban on bicycles has been enacted on expressways nationwide, due to high-speed limits and access control, while being allowed on National Highways and main roads of metro cities.[28]

Rights for Pedestrians

The Motor Vehicles Act does not provide any rights for safety of pedestrians. As pedestrians have been a significant cause of road crashes, they are still considered as driver error, while pedestrians are rarely found accountable for such crashes. With the absence of jaywalking as an offense in the Motor Vehicles Act, some state police forces have made laws penalizing pedestrians who indulge in jaywalking.[29] However, this action has earned negative reception, mostly due to lack of pedestrian crossings, like subways, overpasses, or at-grade crossings, considering that most pedestrian crossings are only located at traffic lights.[30]

References

  1. ↑ "Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989". Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India. Archived from the original on 13 April 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  2. 1 2 "An efficient and vibrant Road Transport System". Orissa Motor Vehicles Department. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  3. ↑ Debroy, Bibek; Kaushik, P.D. "Background Paper on Barriers to Inter-State Trade and Commerce: The Case of Road Transport". Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies. Retrieved 6 October 2014. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ↑ "THE MOTOR VEHICLE ACT, 1988". Helpline Law. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ↑ Imperial Legislative Council; Governor General of India (1921). "The Acts passed by the Governor General of India in Council in the year 1920" (PDF). www.lawmin.nic.in. Calcutta: Superintendent Government Printing, India. p. 166. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2014. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ↑ Imperial Legislative Council; Governor General of India. "Titles of the Acts of the Indian Legislature and of the Governor General for the year 1924" (PDF). www.lawmin.nic.in. Calcutta: Superintendent Government Printing, India. p. 211. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2014. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  7. ↑ "Introduction" (PDF). The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989". Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  9. ↑ "Government to amend MV Act for simplifying accident claims", The New Indian Express, 8 July 2016
  10. ↑ "Road Transport and Safety Bill 2015 (Draft)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  11. ↑ Panel wants body cams on traffic cops, RTO officials Archived 2 September 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Economic Times, 23 Dec 2017.
  12. ↑ "As Road Accidents Pile up, India Debates a New National Safety Law |". 24 July 2018. Archived from the original on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  13. ↑ "Amendments to Motor Vehicle Act, Chit Fund Act, among 38 Bills set to lapse". @businessline. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  14. ↑ Singh, N. Ajith (January 2020). "Sentiment Analysis on Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019 an Initiative by Government of India to follow traffic rule". 2020 International Conference on Computer Communication and Informatics (ICCCI). IEEE. pp. 1–5. doi:10.1109/iccci48352.2020.9104207. ISBN 978-1-7281-4514-3. S2CID 219318185.
  15. ↑ "Tamil Nadu opposes new Motor Vehicles Bill, says it encroaches upon state powers". Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  16. ↑ "TN asks Centre to redraft Road Transport and Safety Bill". Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  17. ↑ "All India Bharat Bandh called by Transporters on April 30". news.webmarked.net. 29 April 2015. Archived from the original on 1 May 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  18. ↑ "West Bengal Not to Implement New Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2019". 28 August 2019. Archived from the original on 31 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  19. ↑ "The bicycle industry is happy with the increased traffic fines in India".
  20. ↑ "Cycle ban back after pandemic break, 71 Kolkata roads on cop list". The Times of India. December 2021.
  21. ↑ "Gujarat: Man on cycle 'challaned' for dangerous driving!". The Times of India. 28 May 2021.
  22. ↑ "Chandigarh to become first city to penalise cyclists".
  23. ↑ "No Mirror on cycles, pay up fine". The Times of India. 18 July 2015.
  24. ↑ "Kolkata: Breathalyzer tests keep cyclists in line".
  25. ↑ "39-year-old Kolkata's 1st cyclist to be booked for 'drink-riding".
  26. ↑ "But where are separate lanes for a safe ride?". The Times of India. 19 November 2017.
  27. ↑ "Rajiv Gandhi setu (Bandra-Worli sea link) & Bandra Fort | My India". www.mapsofindia.com. 19 March 2014. Archived from the original on 21 March 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  28. ↑ "No move to ban cycles on roads, says Gadkari".
  29. ↑ "Jaywalkers to be fined in special drive on pedestrian safety".
  30. ↑ "Bengaluru: Jaywalkers booked, but will menace stop?".
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