Power to restrict the use of vehicles

Q: When did Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act come into force?

Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act, cited as MV Act 115, 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.

In force From 01 Jul 1989 Act 59 of 1988 As on 15 Oct 2026

Act 59 of 1988 Ministry Road Transport and Highways Enacted 14 Oct 1988 In force 01 Jul 1989 Cited by 2 provisions Instruments 11

Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 deals with power to restrict the use of vehicles. The State Government or any authority authorised in this behalf by the State Government, if satisfied that it is necessary in the interest of public safety or convenience, or because of the nature of any road or bridge, may by notification in the Official Gazette, prohibit or restrict, subject to su The Act came into force on 01 Jul 1989.

The State Government or any authority authorised in this behalf by the State Government, if satisfied that it is necessary in the interest of public safety or convenience, or because of the nature of any road or bridge, may by notification in the Official Gazette, prohibit or restrict, subject to such exceptions and conditions as may be specified in notification, the driving of motor vehicles or of any specified class or description of motor vehicles or the use of trailers either generally in a specified area or on a specified road and when any such prohibition or restriction is imposed, shall cause appropriate traffic signs to be placed or erected under section 116 at suitable places:
Provided that where any prohibition or restriction under this section is to remain in force for not more than one month, notification thereof in the Official Gazette shall not be necessary, but such local publicity as the circumstances may permit, shall be given of such prohibition or restriction.
Section 115, 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

s. 116 Power to erect traffic signs

Referred to by 2

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.

High Court 28 Nov 2022 KLHC010684832022

… This Court in the judgment in Jimmichan Mathew (supra) held that power to prohibit vehicular traffic is specifically granted by the Government or person authorised by the Government, as per Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act. There is no power available to the Panchayat either under Section 166 or under Section 170 of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act which overrides the power of the Government under Section 115 and empowers the Panchayat to control traffic. The specific power available under Section 170 is to …

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High Court 04 Aug 2020 KLHC010379822020

… The petitioner places reliance on Ext.P-3 SRO notification issued vide G.O.(P) No.59/2015/Tran dated 29.9.2015 issued by the competent authority in the Motor Vehicles Department in exercise of the powers under Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, whereby it has been ordered to prohibit the operation of goods vehicles having more than capacity of 10 tonnes from roads having width less than 6 meters and wherein it has also been directed that appropriate traffic signs shall be ..4.. erected under Section 116 under the said …

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High Court 20 Jan 2016 KLHC010464332011

… The permissible capacity of the Taurus goods vehicle is 15.1 tonnes and cubic capacity is 450 feet. The Taurus vehicle have not been permitted to ply through the interior roads and only they can ply through National Highways and State Highways. But, in violation of the restriction imposed under Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Rule 336 of the Kerala Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, such vehicles are plying through interior roads. The petitioner has produced Ext.P2 photographs also to substantiate the said contention. Further, according to the petitioner, Taurus vehicle has no permit to ply through the …

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Made under this section, and citing it

9 instruments state 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 2 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.

All subordinate legislation

Questions about Section 115

What does Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act deal with?

Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act is headed "Power to restrict the use of vehicles". The State Government or any authority authorised in this behalf by the State Government, if satisfied that it is necessary in the interest of public safety or convenience, or because of the nature of any road or bridge, may by notification in the Official Gazette, prohibit or restrict, subject to su

How do I find court cases under Section 115 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 115, section 115 MV Act, section 115 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 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act, and has it changed?

Its own text turns on section 116 (Power to erect traffic signs), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 2 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there are 9: most recently EXEMPTION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES (2019), then REGARDING ODD-EVEN (2019), and 7 more.

When did Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act come into force?

Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act, cited as MV Act 115, 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

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 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.