Special provisions as to compensation in case of hit and run motor accident

In force Act 59 of 1988 As on 19 Oct 2026

Read from the scanned gazette. India Code publishes no text for this Act, so the text below was read from the Government's own scan by machine and split into sections by its numbering. It has not been checked against the page word by word. Where it matters, read the scan. Read the scan.

Act 59 of 1988 Cited by 1 provision

This is a second copy of a Central Act. India Code files it on Haryana's shelf as well as under Parliament, and the text is the same enactment. Read it at The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which is the record this site keeps current.

Read from the scanned gazette. India Code publishes no text for this Act, so this text was read from the Government's own scan by machine and split into sections by its numbering. It has not been checked against the page word by word. Where it matters, read the scan. Read the scan.

Section 161 of the Motor Vehicles Act deals with special provisions as to compensation in case of hit and run motor accident. For the purposes of this section, section 162 and section 163- - (a) "grievous hurt" shall have the same meaning as in the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860);

(1) For the purposes of this section, section 162 and section 163- - (a) "grievous hurt" shall have the same meaning as in the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860);
(b) "hit and run motor accident" means an accident arising out of the use of a motor vehicle or motor vehicles the identity whereof cannot be ascertained in spite of reasonable efforts for the purpose;
(c) "scheme" means the scheme framed under section 163.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Act, 1972 (57 of 1972) or any other law for the time being in force or any instrument having the force of law, the General Insurance Corporation of India formed under section 9 of the said Act and the insurance companies for the time being carrying on general insurance business in India shall provide for paying in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the scheme, compensation in respect of the death of, or grievous hurt to, persons resulting from hit and run motor accidents.
(3) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the scheme, there shall be paid as compensation- - (a) in respect of the death of any person resulting from a hit and run motor accident, a fixed sum of 1[twenty-five thousandrupees];
(b) in respect of grievous hurt to any person resulting from a hit and run motor accident, a fixed sum of [twelve thousand and five hundred rupees].
(4) The provisions of sub-section (1) of section 166 shall apply for the purpose of making applications for compensation under this section as they apply for the purpose of making applications for compensation referred to in that sub-section.
Section 161, The Motor Vehicles Act (Act 59 of 1988).

Cross-references

Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.

This section refers to

Referred to by 1

s. 162 Refund in certain cases of compensation paid under section 161

Questions about Section 161

What does Section 161 of the Motor Vehicles Act deal with?

Section 161 of the Motor Vehicles Act is headed "Special provisions as to compensation in case of hit and run motor accident". For the purposes of this section, section 162 and section 163- - (a) "grievous hurt" shall have the same meaning as in the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860);

How do I find court cases under Section 161 of the Motor Vehicles Act?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Motor Vehicles Act 161, section 161 Motor Vehicles Act, section 161 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.

What should I read with Section 161 of the Motor Vehicles Act, and has it changed?

Its own text turns on section 162 (Refund in certain cases of compensation paid under section 161), section 163 (Scheme for payment of compensation in case of hit and run motor accidents), section 166 (Application for compensation), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it.

When was the Motor Vehicles Act enacted?

Motor Vehicles Act was enacted in 1988 as Act 59 of 1988. India Code records no commencement date for it. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

51. Special provisions regarding motor vehicle subject to hire-purchase agreement, etc1658 words
217. Repeal and savings1639 words
88. Validation of permits for use outside region in which granted1606 words
149. 1094 words
96. Power of State Government to make rules for the purposes of this Chapter980 words
2. Definitions947 words

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Read from the Government's own scanned gazette with Azure Document Intelligence, then split into sections by their numbering. India Code publishes no text for this Act. The scan itself is mirrored into our own storage and served at /scan/f09db275-80d6-4bd5-924c-03ac08727bdc.pdf, so the reading here can be checked against the page it came from without depending on India Code's own copy staying where it is (it was at https://indiacode.gov.in/server/api/core/bitstreams/e36db003-a500-4cf2-aaa3-05b529659cd2/content). This page is not a substitute for legal advice.