The Maharashtra Public Conveyances Act
The Maharashtra Public Conveyances Act
The Maharashtra Public Conveyances Act regulates nonmotorized vehicles hired to transport passengers or goods, such as animal drawn carriages and cycle rickshaws. Applying directly to vehicle owners, drivers, and animal handlers in Maharashtra, the Act mandates strict police licensing, driver badges, vehicle inspections, and fixed fare rates. This legislation matters because it ensures commuter safety and prevents financial exploitation by standardizing transport costs. Furthermore, it safeguards the livelihoods of vulnerable laborers by restricting cycle rickshaw licenses to the actual pullers, ultimately establishing orderly public transit, promoting animal welfare, and protecting poor individuals from unfair hiring practices, ensuring they receive their full earnings.
- 1. Short title and extent.
- 2. Definitions.
- 3. Public conveyances to be licensed.
- 4. Licences for public conveyances.
- 5. Grounds on which licence may be refused or cancelled.
- 5A. Special licensing provisions in respect of cycle-rickshaws, in certain areas.
- 6. Number, etc., to be inscribed on conveyance.
- 7. Fees for public conveyance licences.
- 8. Licensing of horses.
- 9. Branding of horses.
- 10. Grounds on which licence for horse may be refused or cancelled and examination by a veterinary practitioner.
- 11. Drivers to be licensed.
- 12. Grounds on which driver’s licence may be refused or cancelled.
- 13. Driver’s badges.
- 14. Fees for driver’s licences.
- 15. Licences when suspended or cancelled to be returned.
- 16. Change of address of licensee to be reported.
- 16A. Licensee to report name of person left in charge of conveyance during his absence.
- 17. Public conveyance or horse to be produced for inspection when required.
- 18. Rates of fares.
- 19. Stands.
- 20. Driver to have his licence as driver and list of fares.
- 21. Book of fares to be issued.
- 22. Keeping public conveyance without licence.
- 23. Failure to cause public conveyance to ply when so required by the police.
- 24. Licensee of public conveyance permitting unlicensed driver to use the same or permitting the same to be drawn by unlicensed horse.
- 25. Failure to produce public conveyance or horse for inspection.
- 26. Offences by drivers of public conveyances.
- 27. Failure to return licence or to notify address.
- 28. Injury to public conveyance.
- 29. Compensation payable by driver causing damage.
- 30. Arrest by police.
- 31. Procedure in case of dispute.
- 32. Licensee may be required to produce driver : penalty.
- 33. Refusal to pay fare.
- 34. Disposal of property : penalty.
- 35. Rules.
- 36. Extension of Act.
- 37. Power to apply or adapt certain provisions to vehicles not used for the purpose of plying for hire.
- 38. Powers may be exercised from time to time.
- 39. Repeal and saving.
PDF: pending for this language.