Punishment for offences relating to accident
Section 187 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 deals with punishment for offences relating to accident. Imprisonment up to six months, or a fine of ₹5,000, or both. Whoever fails to comply with the provisions of clause [(a)] of sub-section (1) of section 132 or section 133 or section 134 shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to [six months], or with fine [of five thousand rupees], or with both or, if having been previously convicted The Act came into force on 01 Jul 1989.
Whoever fails to comply with the provisions of clause 1[(a)] of sub-section (1) of section 132 or section 133 or section 134 shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2[six months], or with fine 3[of five thousand rupees], or with both or, if having been previously convicted of an offence under this section, he is again convicted of an offence under this section, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 4[one year], or with fine 5[of ten thousand rupees], or with both.
Section 187, 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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The State of Tripura Home Department Chief Secretary vs Ramchandra Rabidas @ Ratan Rabidas
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
A prosecution, if otherwise maintainable, would lie both under the Indian Penal Code and the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, since both the statutes operate with full vigour in their own independent spheres. The offences provided under both the statutes are separate and distinct from each other, and an offender can be tried and punished independently under both statutes. The principle that the special law should prevail over the general law has no application in cases of prosecution of offenders in road accidents under the IPC and Motor Vehicles Act, as the offences do not overlap. Section 26 of the General Clauses Act, 1897 permits prosecution under either or both enactments but prevents double punishment for the same offence.
On this section: Offence relating to accident; punishment for failure to comply with accident reporting duties
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Bulla Abhilash vs State of Telangana
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
In cases of culpable homicide not amounting to murder arising from motor vehicle accidents, bail may be granted at the discretion of the court even when the offence is grave, provided that: (1) at the bail stage, certainty about the exact nature of criminal liability cannot be established; (2) stringent bail conditions are imposed including personal bond with sureties; (3) the court considers personal circumstances such as employment opportunities and educational hardship as relevant factors in bail decisions; and (4) the conditions imposed under Section 437(3) CrPC are strictly adhered to by the accused.
On this section: Provides for punishment for driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; applied as tertiary charge against accused for drunk driving
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 187
What have the courts held on Section 187 of the Motor Vehicles Act?
The State of Tripura Home Department Chief Secretary vs Ramchandra Rabidas @ Ratan Rabidas (04 Oct 2019) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Offence relating to accident; punishment for failure to comply with accident reporting duties. Another 1 judgment on this section is set out below, 1 of them from the Supreme Court. They run from 2019 to 2024.
How do I find court cases under Section 187 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 187, section 187 MV Act, section 187 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 The State of Tripura Home Department Chief Secretary vs Ramchandra Rabidas @ Ratan Rabidas (04 Oct 2019).
What should I read with Section 187 of the Motor Vehicles Act, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 132 (Duty of driver to stop in certain cases), section 133 (Duty of owner of motor vehicle to give information), section 134 (Duty of driver in case of accident and injury to a person), so none of them can safely be read on its own.
When did Section 187 of the Motor Vehicles Act come into force?
Section 187 of the Motor Vehicles Act, cited as MV Act 187, 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 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.