Duty of owner of motor vehicle to give information

Q: When did Section 133 of the Motor Vehicles Act come into force?

Section 133 of the Motor Vehicles Act, cited as MV Act 133, 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 1 provision

Section 133 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 deals with duty of owner of motor vehicle to give information. The owner of a motor vehicle, the driver or conductor of which is accused of any offence under this Act shall, on the demand of any police officer authorised in this behalf by the State Government, give all information regarding the name and address of, and the licence held by, the driver or conduct The Act came into force on 01 Jul 1989.

The owner of a motor vehicle, the driver or conductor of which is accused of any offence under this Act shall, on the demand of any police officer authorised in this behalf by the State Government, give all information regarding the name and address of, and the licence held by, the driver or conductor which is in his possession or could by reasonable diligence be ascertained by him.
Section 133, 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.

Referred to by 1

s. 187 Punishment for offences relating to accident

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.

Chairman, R. S. R. T. C. vs Santosh

Supreme Court of India 10 May 2013 Binding (SC) - Landmark precedent establishing nationwide binding interpretation Reportable

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: Duty on owners and drivers to report accidents and provide information; critical for accident liability determination

Read the full order on eCourts India

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.

Questions about Section 133

What have the courts held on Section 133 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: Duty on owners and drivers to report accidents and provide information; critical for accident liability determination.

How do I find court cases under Section 133 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 133, section 133 MV Act, section 133 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Chairman, R. S. R. T. C. vs Santosh (10 May 2013).

What should I read with Section 133 of the Motor Vehicles Act, and has it changed?

1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it.

When did Section 133 of the Motor Vehicles Act come into force?

Section 133 of the Motor Vehicles Act, cited as MV Act 133, 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.