The Carriage by Road Act, 2007

~ 1fo ~o ~-~04/000712003-O7 REGISTERED NO. DL-(N)04/0007/2003-07 3Tffi1:lf\Ul EXTRAORDJNARY 'lPT fI- ~1 PART II- Section 1 mfwm'~~ PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY m.rcm, ~ 1fo 49J 1{~, 1,2007/ a:rrftcr.T 9, 1929 No. 49] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, OCTOBER 1,2007 IASVINA 9,1929 ~ 'Writ f'r;:;{~~~ ~t-~ fcf;~ ~~<t~ itmi;;rr wtl Separate paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed as a separate compilation. MINISTRY OF LAWAND JUSTICE (Legislative Department) New Delhi. the 1stOctober;2007/9 Asvina, 1929 (Saka) The following Act of Parliament received the assent of the President on the 29thSeptember. 2007, and isherebypublished forgeneral information:- THE CARRIAGE BY ROAD ACT, 2007 No. 41 OF 2007 [29thSeptember, 2007.] AnAct toprovide forthe regulation of common carriers, limiting their liability and declaration of value of goods delivered to them to determine their liabilityforlossof,ordamageto,suchgoodsoccasioned by thenegligence or criminal acts of themselves, their servants or agents and for matters connected therewith or incidentalthereto. BE it enacted by Parliament in the Fifty-eighth Year of the Republic of India as follows:- 1. (I) This Act may be called theCarriage by Road Act, 2007. Short title. extent and (2) It extends to the whole of India, except the State ofJammu and Kashmir. commencement. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in [heOfficial Gazette, appoint. 2 THE GAZETTE OF INDlA EXTRAORDfNARY [PARTII- Defirunons 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- (a) "common carrier" means aperson engaged inthe business ofcollecting, storing, forwarding or distributing goods to be carried by goods carriages under a goods receipt or transporting for hire of goods from place to place by motorised transport on road, for all persons undiscriminatingly and includes a goods booking company, contractor, agent, broker and courier agency engaged in the door-to-door transportation of documents, goods or articles utilising the services of a person, either directly or indirectly, to carry or accompany such documents, goods or articles, but does not include the Government; (b) "consignee" means the person named as consignee in the goods forwarding note: (el "consignment" means documents, goods or articles entrusted by the consignor to the common carrier for carriage, the description or details of which are given in the goods forwarding note; (d) "consignor" means a person, named as consignor in the goods forwarding note, by whom or on whose behalf the documents, goods or articles covered by such forwarding note are entrusted to the common carrier for carriage thereof; (e) "goods" includes- (i) containers, pallets or similar articles of transport used to consolidate goods; and (ii) animals or livestock; (/) "goods forwarding note" means the document executed under section 8; (g) "goods receipt" means the receipt issued under section 9; (h) "person" includes any association or body of persons, whether incorporated or not, a road transport booking company, contractor and an agent or a broker carrying on the business of a common carrier; (i) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act; (j) "registering authority" means a State Transport Authority or a Regional Transport Authority constituted under section 68 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988; 59 of 1988. (k) "registration" means the registration granted or renewed under sub- section (5) of section 4. Persons not 3. (1) No person shall engage in the business of a common carrier, after the to engage ill commencement of this Act, unless he has been granted a certificate of registration. business of common (2) Any person who is engaged, whether wholly or partly, in the business of a carrier common carrier, immediately before the commencement of this Act, shall,- without registration. (a) apply for a registration within ninety days from the date of such commencement; (b) cease to engage in such business on the expiry of one hundred and eighty days from the dare of such commencement uniess he has applied for registration and the certificate of registration has been granted by the registering authority. SEC. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDLAEXTRAORDINARY 3 4. (I) Any person, who is engaged or intends to engage in the business of a Application common carrier, shall apply for the grant or renewal of a certificate of registration for for grant or renewal of carrying on the business of common carrier to the registering authority. . registration. (2) An application under sub-section (1) shall be made, to the registering authority having jurisdiction in the area in which the applicant resides or has his principal place of business stating that the application is for the main office, in such form and manner and accompanied by such fees payable to the registering authority as may be prescribed. (3) An application for grant or renewal of certificate of registration for the main office shall contain the details of branch office, if any, to be operated outside the jurisdiction of the State or Union territory in which the main office is to be registered in such form and manner as may be prescribed: Provided that an application for the purpose to open or close a branch office shall be made to the registering authority having jurisdiction over the main office. (4) A registering authority shall, before granting or renewing a certificate of registration, satisfy itself that the applicant fulfills such conditions as may be prescribed. (5)'The registering authority may, on receipt of an application under sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) and after satisfying itself that the applicant fulfills the requirements of sub-section (4), grant the certificate of registration or renew it, as the case may be, for carrying on the business of a common carrier, in such form and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed: Provided that no application for the grant or renewal of a certificate of registration shall be refused by the registering authority unless the applicant has been given an opportunity of being heard and the reasons for such refusal are given in writing by the registering authority within sixty days from the date of receipt of such application: Provided further that if such refusal has not been communicated within sixty days of the date of application, the registering authority shall grant or renew certificate of registration within a further period of thirty days. (6) A certificate of registration granted or renewed under sub-section (5) shall contain the details of branch offices to be operated in various States and Union territories, and shall be valid for a period of ten years from the date of such grant or renewal, as the case may be: Provided that in the case of registration in respect of branch offices referred to in sub-section (3), the validity of such registration shall be restricted to the validity of the registration granted in respect of the main office. (7) The holder of a certificate of registration shall- (a) maintain a register in such form and manner as may be prescribed; (b) for shifting the main office mentioned in the certificate of registration submit an application to the registering authority which granted the certificate of registration: Provided that such registering authority shall grant or refuse permission for shifting the main office within thirty days from the date of receipt of such application and that no application for shifting the main office shall be refused unless the applicant has been given an opportunity of being heard and reasons for such refusal are given in writing by the registering authority: Provided further that in case the registering authority has not either granted or refused the permission within thirty days it shall be deemed that the permission for shifting has been granted. 4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIAEXTRAORDINARY [PART II- (c) submit to the registering authority under whose jurisdiction the main office is located and the Transport Research Wing of the Ministry or Department of the Central Government dealing with road transport and highways such information and return as may be prescribed with.n one hundred and twenty days after the thirty-first day of March every year; (d) display at a prominent place in its or its main office and each branch office, if any, a certificate of registration in original or certified copy thereof attested by the concerned registering authority, a notary or a Gazetted Officer of the Central or State Government. (8) Acommon carrier shall not load the motor vehicle beyond the gross vehicle weight mentioned inthe registration certificate whose registration number is mentioned in the goods forwarding note or goods receipt, and the common carrier shall not allow such vehicle to be loaded beyond the gross vehicle weight. Suspension or 5.(1)Iftheregistering authority issatisfied thattheholder ofcertificateofregistration cancellation of has failed to comply with anyof theprovisions ofsub-section (7) of section 4, itmay give registration. a notice by registered post or through electronic media or by any verifiable means to the holder of certificate of registration to rectify within a period of thirty days and in case such aholder fails to doso, it may revoke the certificate of registration on completion of enquiry. (2) If a complaint isreceived by the registering authority against a common carrier from a consignor in respect of,- (/) non-issuance of receipt of goods; (il)non-disclosure ofthewhereabouts of thegoods intransit whenasked bythe consignor or consignee; or (iiI) detention of goods fordelivery without valid reasons; or (iv) demand forunreasonable additional charges at the time of delivery, which were neither disclosed nor agreed upon between the consignor and the consignee earlier;or (v) non-payment of charges agreed and payable to truck-owners, itmaygiveanotice byregistered postorthrough electronic media orbyanyother verifiable means totheholder of certificate ofregistration to rectify the same withinaperiod of thirty days and in case such holder fails to do so, it may revoke certificate of registration for a period asmay be prescribed under therules oncompletion of thatenquiry. (3) If the registering authority or any other authority so authorised under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 has received proof of violation of provision of sub-section (8) of 59 of 1998. section 4, itshall be competent to impose the penalty prescribed under section 194of the Motor VehiclesAct. 1988onthecommon carrier, notwithstanding the factthatsuchpenalty have beenalready imposed onandrealised fromthedriver ortheownerofthegoodsvehicle or the consignor, as the case may be. e4)Anyaction forrevocation ofcertificate ofregistration shall notbetakenundersub- sections (J) and(2)unless theholderofthecertificate ofregistration isgivenanopportunity ofbeing heard intheenquiryandreasonsforsuchactionaregiven inwritingbytheregistering authoriry. (5) The registering authority in whose jurisdiction the main office of the common carrier islocated shall be competent to take action under sub-sections (I) and(2) and any other registering authority who hasnoticed the violations orhas received complaints under thesaidsub-sections, shall report suchmattertotheregistering authority havingjurisdiction overthemainoffice. (6) When the certificate of registration is revoked, the holder of the certificate of registration shallsurrender thecertificate ofregistration totheregistering authority within a SEC.1] THE GAZETIE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 5 period ofthirty days and itwould beincumbent onthe holder ofthecertificate ofregistration to complete the delivery and transactions in respect of the consignments already accepted by the common carrier from any consignor prior to the revocation of the certificate of registration. (7)The holder ofacertificate ofregistration may,atanytime, surrender thecertificate to the registering authority which granted the registration and on such surrender the registering authority shall, after obtaining declaration from the holder of the certificate of registration that no liability is outstanding against him and that he shall discharge such liability, ifheld liable, revoke thecertificate ofregistration: Provided that if the surrender is in respect of a branch office, the endorsement in respect of the branch office shall be deleted from the certificate of registration and such deletion shall benotified bytheregistering authority havingjurisdiction over themain office to such other authorities as may be prescribed. 6. (1) Any person aggrieved by an order of the registering authority refusing to Appeal. grant or renew a certificate of registration or suspending or revoking a registration under this Act, may, within sixty days from the date of such order, appeal to the State Transport Appellate Tribunal constituted' under sub-section (2) of section 89 of the 59 of 1988. Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. (2) An appeal under sub-section (I) shall be preferred in duplicate in the form of amemorandum setting forth the grounds of objection to the order of the registering authority and shall be accompanied by such fee as may be prescribed. (3) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2), the 59 of 1988. provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 89 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, as in force immediately before the commencement of this Act, with regard to appeal, shall, as far as may, apply to every appeal as if the provisions aforesaid were enacted by this Act subject to the modification that any reference therein to the "permit" shall be construed as a reference to the "registration". 7. The State Transport Authority in respect of each State or Union territory Submission of shall submit annually to the Ministry or Department of the Central Government dealing annual return. with road transport and highways a consolidated annual return giving the details of the goods carried by the common carriers in that State or the Union territory, as the case may be, on the basis of the returns received from the holders of the registration as specified under clause (c) of sub-section (7) of section 4. 8. (J) Every consignor shall execute a goods forwarding note, in such form and Goods manner as may be prescribed, which shall include a declaration about the value of the forwarding consignment and goods of dangerous or hazardous nature. note. (2) The consignor shall be responsible for the correctness of the particulars furnished by him in the goods forwarding note. (3) The consignor shall indemnify the common carrier against any damage suffered by him by reason of incorrectness or incompleteness of the particulars on the goods fcrwarding note. 9. (1)Acommon carrier shall,- Goods receipt. (a) in case where the goods are to be loaded by the consignor, on the completion of such loading; or (b) in any other case, on the acceptance of the goods by him, issue a goods receipt in such form and manner as may be prescribed. (2) The goods receipt shall be issued in triplicate and the original shall be given to the consignor. 6 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PARTll- (3) The goods receipt shall be prima facie evidence of the weight or measure and other particulars of the goods and the number of packages stated therein. (.J) The goods receipt shall include an undertaking bythe common carrier about the liability under section 10or section 11. Liability of IO. (1) The liability of the common carrier for loss of, or damage to any common consignment, shall be limited to such amount as may be prescribed having regard to carrier. the value, freight and nature of goods, documents or articles of the consignment, unless the consignor or any person duly authorised in that behalf have expressly undertaken to pay higher risk rate fixed by the common carrier under section 11. (2) The liability of the common carrier in case of any delay up to such period as may be mutually agreed upon by and between the consignor and the common carrier and specifically provided in the goods forwarding note including the consequential loss or damage to such consignment shall be limited to the amount of freight charges where such loss, damage or delay took place while the consignment was under the charge of such carrier: Provided that beyond the period so'agreed upon in the goods forwarding note, compensation shall be payable in accordance with sub-section (1) or section 11: Provided further that the common carrier shall not be liable if such carrier proves that such loss of, or damage to, the consignment or delay in delivery thereof, had not taken place due to his fault or neglect or that of his servants or agents thereof. Rates of charge 11. Every common carrier may require payment for the higher risk undertaken to be fixed by by him in carrying a particular consignment at such rate of charge as he may fix and cfoormmcaorrniageearneorf correspon dimgIy,hi IS. I·iabi 1 li ity would be . In accordance W.ith tIte terms as may be agreed consignment at upon with the consignor: . a higher risk Provided that to entitle such carrier to claim payment at a rate higher than his rate. ordinary rate of charge, he should have exhibited a printed or written notice, in English and the vernacular language of the State, of the higher rate of charge in the • place or premises where he carries on the business of common carrier. Conditions 12. (1) Every common carrier shall be liable to the consignor for the loss or limiting damage to any consignment in accordance with the goods forwarding note, where exonerating such loss or damage has arisen on account of any criminal act of the common carrier, the liability of the common or any of his servants or agents. carrier. (2) In any suit brought against the common carrier for the loss, damage or non- delivery of consignment, it shall not be necessary for the plaintiff to prove that such loss, damage or non-delivery was owing to the negligence or criminal act of the common carrier, or any of his servants or agents. (3) Where any consignment has been detained for examination or scrutiny by a competent authority and upon such examination or scrutiny it is found that certain prohibited goods or goods on which due tax was not paid or insufficiently paid have been entrusted to the common carrier bythe consignor which have not been described in the goods forwarding note, the cost of such examination or scrutiny shall be borne by the consignor and the common carrier shall not be liable for any loss, damage or deterioration ca~sed bysuch detention of the consignment for examination or scrutiny: Provided that the onus of proving that such incorrect description of goods in the goods forwarding note was received from the consignor shall be on the common carrier. Explanation.-For the purposes of this section, "competent authority" means any person or authority who is empowered to examine or scrutinise goods by or under any law for the time being in force to secure compliance of provisions of that law. SEC. 1] THE GAZETIE OF lNDLAEXTRAORDINARY 7 13. (/) No goods of dangerous or hazardous nature to human life shall be Provision for carried by a common carrier except in accordance with such procedure and after carriage of goods of complying with such safeguards as may be prescribed. dangerous or (2) The Central Government may, by rules made in this behalf, specify the hazardous nature to goods of dangerous or hazardous nature to human life and the label or class of labels human life. to be carried in, or displayed on, the motor vehicle or such goods in the course of transportation. (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other· law for the time being in force, every common carrier shall scrutinise and ensure before starting transportation of any consignment containing goods of dangerous or hazardous nature to human life that the consignment is covered by, one or more insurance policies under a contract of insurance in respect of such goods providing relief in case of death or injury to a person or damage to any property or the consignment, if an accident takes place. 14. The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify, Power in public interest, the goods or class or classes of goods which shall not be carried of Central Government to bya common carrier. ' prohibit carriage of certain class of goods. 15. (1) If the consignee fails to take delivery of any consignment of goods Right of within a period of thirty days from the date of notice given by the common carrier, common carrier in case such consignment may be deemed as unclaimed: of consignee's Provided that in case of perishable consignment, the period of thirty days shall default. not apply and the consignment shall be deemed unclaimed after a period of twenty- four hours of service of notice or any lesser period as may be mutually agreed to by and between the common carrier and the consignor. (2) In the case of an unclaimed consignment under sub-section (1), the commcn carrier may,- (a) if such consignment is perishable in nature, have the right to sell the consignment; or (b) if such consignment is not perishable in nature, cause a notice to be served upon the consignee or upon the consignor if the consignee is not available, requiring him to remove the goods within a period of fifteen days from the date of receipt of the notice and in case of failure to comply with the notice, the common carrier shall have the right to sell such consignment without any further notice to the consignee or the consignor, as the case may be. (3) The common carrier shall, out of the sale proceeds received under sub- section (2), retain a sum equal to the freight, storage and other charges due including expenses incurred for the sale, and the surplus, if any, from such sale proceeds shall be returned to the consignee or the consignor, as the case may be. (4) Unless otherwise agreed upon between the common carrier and consignor, the common carrier shall be entitled to detain or dispose off the consignment in part or full to recover his dues in the event of the consignee failing to make payment of the freight and other charges payable to the common carrier at the time of taking delivery. 16. No suit or other legal proceeding shall be instituted against a common Notice for carrier for any loss of, or damage to, the consignment, unless notice in writing of the institution of asuit. loss or damage to the consignment has been served on the common carrier before the institution of the suit or other legal proceeding and within one hundred and eighty days from the date of booking of the consignment by the consignor. 8 THE GAZETTE OF INDIAEXTRAORDINARY [PARTII- Gener-il 17. Save as otherwise provided inthis Act, acommon carrier shall be responsible responsibility for the loss, destruction, damage or deterioration in transit or non-delivery of any of common consignment entrusted to him for carriage, arising from any cause except the following, carrier. namely:- (a) act of God; (b) act of war or public enemy; (c) riots and civil commotion; (d) arrest, restraint or seizure under legal process; (e) order or restriction or prohibition imposed by the Central Government or a State Government or by an officer or authority subordinate to the Central Government or a State Government authorised by it in this behalf: Provided that the common carrier shall not be relieved of its responsibility for the loss, destruction, damage, deterioration or non-delivery of the consignment if the common carrier could have avoided such loss, destruction, damage or deterioration or non-delivery had the common carrjer exercised due deligence and care in the carriage of the consignment. Punishment for 18. (1) Whoever contravenes the provisions of section 3, section 13or a contravention notification issued under section 14 shall be punishable for the first offence with fine in relation to which may extend to five thousand rupees, and for the second or subsequent offence non-r esistr a- tion,ca~ry;ng with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees. goods of (2) If the person committing an offence under this Act is a company, every dangerous or person who, at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of, and was hazardous nature, or responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well prohibited as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be goods. proceeded against and punished accordingly: Provided that nothing contained inthis sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he had exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence. (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where any offence under this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other officer ofthe company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall be proceeded against and punished accordingly. Explanation.-For the purpose of this section,- (a) "company" means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals; and (b) "director", in relation to a firm, means a partner inthe firm. Composition 19. (1) Any offence committed under section 18, may either before or after the of offences. institution of the prosecution, be compounded by such officers or authorities and for such amount as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify. (2) Where an offence has been compounded under sub-section (1), the offender shall be discharged and no further proceedings shall be taken against him in respect of such offence. Power to 20. (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules. make rules for carrying out the provisions of this Act. SEC. I] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 9 (2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:- (a) the form and manner of making an application for grant or renewal of a certificate of registration for main office or branch office and the fee thereof under sub-sections (2) and (3) of section 4; (b) the other conditions of eligibility which are required to be fulfilled by an applicant under clause (d) of sub-section (4) of section 4; (c) the form in which and the conditions subject to which certificate of registration or renewal may be granted under sub-section (5) of section 4; (d) the form and manner of maintaining a register under clause (a) of sub- section (7) of section 4; (e) the information and return which may be furnish.ed to the registering authority and the transport research wing under clause (c) of sub-section (7) of section 4; (j) fee for submitting the memorandum of appeal under sub-section (2) of section 6; (g) the form and manner in which agoods forwarding note shall be executed by the consignor under sub-section (I) of section 8; (h) the form and manner in which a common carrier shall issue goods receipt under sub-section (1) of section 9; . (i) liability of the common carrier for loss Of, or damage to any consignment under sub-section (1) of section 10; (j) the procedure and safeguards to be complied with for carrying goods of dangerous or hazardous nature under sub-section (1) of section 13; . ' (k) the specification of the goods of dangerous or hazardous nature to human life and the label or class of labels to be carried or displayed in or on the motor vehicle or on such goods in the course of their transportation under sub- section (2) of section 13; and (l) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed. (3) Every rule made under this section and every notification issued under section 14 shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made or issued, before each House of Parliament, while it is insession, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or intwo or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree inmaking any modification in the rule or the notification, or both Houses agree that the rule or the notification should not be made or issued, ,the rule or the notification shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity' of anything previously done under that rule or notification. 21. (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Power to' Central Government may, by general or special order published in the Official Gazette, remove difficulties, make such provisions. not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act as appear to it to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty: Provided that 110 such order shall be made under this section after the expiry of two years from the date of commencement of this Act. 10 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II-Ssc. I] (2) Every order made under sub-section (1) shall be laid, as soon as may be, after it is made, before each House of Parliament. Repeal and 22. (1)The Carriers Act, 1865, is hereby repealed. 3 of iS65. saving. (2) Notwithstanding the repeal of the Carriers Act, 1865, anything done or any :3 of 1865. action taken under the said Act shall, in so far as such thing or action is not inconsistent with the provisions of thisAct, be deemed to have been done or taken under the provisions of this Act arid shall continue in force accordingly until superseded by anything done or any action taken under this Act. (3)The mention of particular matters inthis section shall not be held to prejudice or affect the general application of section 6of the General Clauses Act, 1897with regard to 10 of 1897. the effect of repeals. K.N. CHATURVEDI, Secy. totheGovt.ojindia. .. PRINTED BYTHE MANAGER. GOVERNMENT OF INDIA'PRESS. )\·IlNTOROAD. NEW DELHi ' AND PUBLISHED BYTHE CONTROLLER OF PUBLICATIONS, DELHI, 2007. MGIPMRNO-4i06GI(S5)-3-10-2007.