Limits of speed
Section 112 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 deals with limits of speed. No person shall drive a motor vehicle or cause or allow a motor vehicle to be driven in any public place at a speed exceeding the maximum speed or below the minimum speed fixed for the vehicle under this Act or by or under any other law for the time being in force: Provided that such maximum speed s The Act came into force on 01 Jul 1989.
(1) No person shall drive a motor vehicle or cause or allow a motor vehicle to be driven in any public place at a speed exceeding the maximum speed or below the minimum speed fixed for the vehicle under this Act or by or under any other law for the time being in force:
Provided that such maximum speed shall in no case exceed the maximum fixed for any motor vehicle or class or description of motor vehicles by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette.
(2) The State Government or any authority authorised in this behalf by the State Government may, if satisfied that it is necessary to restrict the speed of motor vehicles in the interest of public safety or convenience or because of the nature of any road or bridge, by notification in the Official Gazette, and by causing appropriate traffic signs to be placed or erected under section 116 at suitable places, fix such maximum speed limits or minimum speed limits as it thinks fit for motor vehicles or any specified class or description of motor vehicles or for motor vehicles to which a trailer is attached, either generally or in a particular area or on a particular road or roads:
Provided that no such notification is necessary if any restriction under this section is to remain in force for not more than one month.
(3) Nothing in this section shall apply to any vehicle registered under section 60 while it is being used in the execution of military manoeuvres within the area and during the period specified in the notification under sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Manoeuvres, Field Firing and Artillery Practice Act, 1938 (5 of 1938).
Section 112, The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (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
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Chairman, R. S. R. T. C. vs Santosh
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
A vehicle is a motor vehicle under Section 2(28) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 if it is mechanically propelled and adapted for use upon roads, regardless of its primary purpose or actual use. The test is the vehicle's suitability for road use and mechanical propulsion, not whether it is primarily used for agriculture or other purposes. Accordingly, Jugaads are motor vehicles subject to all provisions of the Act including registration, insurance, and driver licensing requirements, unless specifically exempted by state notification for vehicles exclusively used for agricultural purposes with appropriate specifications. This classification is enforceable through statutory authority actions, and the Supreme Court may issue directions to ensure compliance with existing law to address public safety concerns and legislative gaps.
On this section: Speed limits and road safety standards; applicable to Jugaads
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Mbr Educational Society vs Union of India
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
When a subsequent legislation or government order redresses the core grievance of discrimination in an administrative action, the challenge to the previous order becomes moot, subject to the right to challenge the new order.
On this section: Limits of speed.
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Judgments citing this section
These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.
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… In the judgment in Gopalan v. Vellangallur Grama Panchayat [2021 (2) KLT 539], this Court considered the issue of Autorickshaw Parking areas and held that on a harmonious reading of Section 72 of the Kerala Police Act, 2011 and Section 112 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, it is the Traffic Regulatory Committees chaired by the heads of Local Self Government Institutions constituted under Section 72 of the Kerala Police Act, 2011 who are competent to decide, locate and demarcate autorickshaw stands. 19. When a Traffic Regulatory Committee takes a …
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… In the judgment in Gopalan v. Vellangallur Grama Panchayat [2021 (2) KLT 539], this Court considered the issue of Autorickshaw Parking areas and held that on a harmonious reading of Section 72 of the Kerala Police Act, 2011 and Section 112 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, it is the Traffic Regulatory Committees chaired by the heads of Local Self Government Institutions constituted under Section 72 of the Kerala Police Act, 2011 who are competent to decide, locate and demarcate autorickshaw stands. 19. When a Traffic Regulatory Committee takes a …
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… It is urged by the learned counsel for the Appellant that the Respondent No.2 Adbul Qadir, the driver of the offending vehicle was challaned by the police for offences under Section 279 and 338 IPC apart from under Section 3 read with Section 112 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which sufficiently established that the driver did not possess a valid driving licence. It is urged that this indicates the breach of the condition of the policy was writ large. Appellant was, therefore, entitled to at least recovery rights against the insured. 3. The Claims Tribunal …
Made under this section, and citing it
1 instrument states that it was made under this provision — the power to make it comes from here, so a change to any of them changes what this section requires in practice. Newest first.
Another 1 instrument names this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 112
What have the courts held on Section 112 of the Motor Vehicles Act?
Chairman, R. S. R. T. C. vs Santosh (10 May 2013) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Speed limits and road safety standards; applicable to Jugaads. Another 1 judgment on this section is set out below, 1 of them from the Supreme Court. They run from 2010 to 2013.
How do I find court cases under Section 112 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: MV Act 112, section 112 MV Act, section 112 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 2 reported judgments on this section are set out on this page, beginning with Chairman, R. S. R. T. C. vs Santosh (10 May 2013).
What should I read with Section 112 of the Motor Vehicles Act, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 60 (Registration of vehicles belonging to the Central Government), section 116 (Power to erect traffic signs), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 4 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there is one: most recently Corrigendum to the erstwhile Ministry of Surface Transport number S.O. 425(E), dated the 9th June, 1989 (2014).
When did Section 112 of the Motor Vehicles Act come into force?
Section 112 of the Motor Vehicles Act, cited as MV Act 112, came into force on 01 Jul 1989, having been enacted on 14 Oct 1988. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 2. Definitions1948 words
- 88. Validation of permits for use outside region in which granted1560 words
- 51. Special provisions regarding motor vehicle subject to hire-purchase agreement, etc1199 words
- 150. Duty of insurers to satisfy judgments and awards against persons insured in respect of third party risks1102 words
- 96. Power of State Government to make rules for the purposes of this Chapter995 words
- 72. Grant of stage carriage permits868 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. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.