General provision for punishment of offences
Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 deals with general provision for punishment of offences. First offence: A fine of up to ₹500. Whoever contravenes any provision of this Act or of any rule, regulation or notification made thereunder shall, if no penalty is provided for the offence be punishable for the first offence with fine which may extend to "five hundred rupees/", and for any second or subsequent offence with fine which The Act came into force on 01 Jul 1989.
Whoever contravenes any provision of this Act or of any rule, regulation or notification made thereunder shall, if no penalty is provided for the offence be punishable for the first offence with fine which may extend to 1"five hundred rupees/", and for any second or subsequent offence with fine which may extend to 2"one thousand and five hundred rupees".
Section 177, 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.
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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Vipul Tej M K vs The Police Inspector
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Where allegations in a criminal complaint are so absurd and inherently improbable that they do not constitute cognizable offences and no prudent person can reach a just conclusion that there is sufficient ground for proceeding against the accused, the criminal proceedings should be quashed under Article 226 of the Constitution or Section 482 Cr.P.C. In the present case, the charges of criminal force (Section 353 IPC), unauthorized election expenses (Section 171H IPC), and violation of election pamphlet rules (Section 127A of the Representation of People Act, 1950) were wholly unjustified as there was no factual basis for any of these charges. A generic political slogan on a vehicle does not constitute electioneering canvassing and does not violate election laws.
On this section: Provision for imposing fine for violation of motor vehicle rules. Court suggested that appropriate authority could issue challan under this section for violation of Rule 100(2) of Central Motor Vehicle Rules.
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GOVERNMENT OF GUJARAT vs NIKITA K. GADHIYA
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
A court cannot take cognizance of an offence or initiate trial if the complaint is filed after the expiry of the limitation period prescribed under Section 514 of BNSS without a valid explanation for the delay.
On this section: The substantive offence for which the complaint was originally filed.
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The State of Maharashtra vs VIKAS RAMCHANDRA RASKAR MH12SE5131
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Courts are barred from taking cognizance of any offense punishable with a fine only if the police report or complaint is submitted after the expiration of the statutory six-month limitation period as mandated by Section 514 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
On this section: Substantive offenses dealing with general penalties and violations.
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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… Consequently, the motorcycle rider has been charged by the local police for offenses punishable under Section 3 read with Section 181, Section 129 read with Section 194(d), and Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Additionally, the owner of the motorcycle has been charged for offenses punishable under Section 180, 146, and 196 of the Motor Vehicles Act. According to their perspective, the ambulance driver, who is an experienced driver, was operating the ambulance at a moderate speed and on the …
Made under this section, and citing it
1 instrument names this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 177
What have the courts held on Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act?
Vipul Tej M K vs The Police Inspector (24 Apr 2019) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Provision for imposing fine for violation of motor vehicle rules. Court suggested that appropriate authority could issue challan under this section for violation of Rule 100(2) of Central Motor Vehicle Rules. Another 2 judgments on this section are set out below. They run from 2019 to 2026.
How do I find court cases under Section 177 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 177, section 177 MV Act, section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 3 reported judgments on this section are set out on this page, beginning with Vipul Tej M K vs The Police Inspector (24 Apr 2019).
What should I read with Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act, and has it changed?
4 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. One instrument names it without being made under it, most recently Compoundable Sections under Motor Vehicle Regulations (2019).
When did Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act come into force?
Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act, cited as MV Act 177, 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.