Section89
The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988

Appeals

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 2

Section 89 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 deals with appeals. Any person-- (a) aggrieved by the refusal of the State or a Regional Transport Authority to grant a permit, or by any condition attached to a permit granted to him, or (b) aggrieved by the revocation or suspension of the permit or by any variation of the conditions thereof, or (c) aggrieved by the r The Act came into force on 01 Jul 1989.

(1) Any person--

(a) aggrieved by the refusal of the State or a Regional Transport Authority to grant a permit, or by any condition attached to a permit granted to him, or

(b) aggrieved by the revocation or suspension of the permit or by any variation of the conditions thereof, or

(c) aggrieved by the refusal to transfer the permit under section 82, or

(d) aggrieved by the refusal of the State or a Regional Transport Authority to countersign a permit, or by any condition attached to such countersignature, or

(e) aggrieved by the refusal of renewal of a permit, or

(f) aggrieved by the refusal to grant permission under section 83, or

(g) aggrieved by any other order which may be prescribed, may, within the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner, appeal to the State Transport Appellate Tribunal constituted under sub-section (2), who shall, after giving such person and the original authority an opportunity of being heard, give a decision thereon which shall be final.

1[(2) The State Government shall constitute such number of Transport Appellate Tribunals as it thinks fit and each such Tribunal shall consist of a judicial officer who is not below the rank of a District Judge or who is qualified to be a Judge of the High Court and it shall exercise jurisdiction within such area as may be notified by that Government.]

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) or sub- section (2), every appeal pending at the commencement of this Act, shall continue to be proceeded with and disposed of as if this Act had not been passed.

Explanation.--For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that when any order is made by the State Transport Authority or the Regional Transport Authority in pursuance of a direction issued by the Inter-State Transport Commission under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 63A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939 (4 of 1939), as it stood immediately before the commencement of this Act, and any person feels aggrieved by such order on the ground that it is not in consonance with such direction, he may appeal under sub-section (1) to the State Transport Appellate Tribunal against such order but not against the direction so issued.

Section 89, 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.

  1. Uber India Systems Private Limited vs Union of India

    Supreme Court of India 13 Feb 2023 Persuasive (Other HC) - Non-Binding Procedural

    Court's Decision & Legal Precedent

    The statutory requirement for aggregator licensing under Section 93(1) Motor Vehicles Act 1988 cannot be suspended or indefinitely deferred even when State rules remain in draft form, but the Court may grant reasonable timelines for compliance and ensure procedurally fair opportunity for applicants to address licensing conditions through representation to the regulator, with provision for judicial review of grievances if State action remains unreasonable.

    On this section: Appellate mechanism for challenges to licensing decisions, establishing State Transport Appellate Tribunal as appellate authority

    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.

Made under this section, and citing it

2 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.

All subordinate legislation

Questions about Section 89

What have the courts held on Section 89 of the Motor Vehicles Act?

Uber India Systems Private Limited vs Union of India (13 Feb 2023) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Appellate mechanism for challenges to licensing decisions, establishing State Transport Appellate Tribunal as appellate authority.

How do I find court cases under Section 89 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 89, section 89 MV Act, section 89 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 Uber India Systems Private Limited vs Union of India (13 Feb 2023).

What should I read with Section 89 of the Motor Vehicles Act, and has it changed?

Its own text turns on section 82 (Transfer of permit), section 83 (Replacement of vehicles), 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 2: most recently GSR 166(E) 10.03.2021 All India tourist vehicle (2021), then JHARKHAND ON-DEMAND TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY AGGREGATOR RULES, 2019 (2019).

When did Section 89 of the Motor Vehicles Act come into force?

Section 89 of the Motor Vehicles Act, cited as MV Act 89, 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.