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Section2
The Petroleum Act, 1934

Definitions

In force From 30 Mar 1937 Act 30 of 1934 As on 15 Oct 2026

Act 30 of 1934 Ministry Petroleum and Natural Gas Enacted 06 Sep 1934 In force 30 Mar 1937 Cited by 1 provision

Section 2 of the Petroleum Act, 1934 deals with definitions. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,-- (a) "petroleum" means any liquid hydrocarbon or mixture of hydrocarbons, and any inflammable mixture (liquid, viscous or solid) containing any liquid hydrocarbon; The Act came into force on 30 Mar 1937.

In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,--

(a) "petroleum" means any liquid hydrocarbon or mixture of hydrocarbons, and any inflammable mixture (liquid, viscous or solid) containing any liquid hydrocarbon;

1[(b) "petroleum Class A" means petroleum having a flash-point below twenty-three degrees Centigrade;

(bb) "petroleum Class B" means petroleum having a flash-point of twenty-three degrees Centigrade and above but below sixty-five degrees Centigrade;

(bbb) "petroleum Class C" means petroleum having a flash-point of sixty-five degrees Centigrade and above but below ninety-three degree Centigrade;]

(c) 2["flash-point"] of any petroleum means the lowest temperature at which it yields a vapour which will give a momentary flash when ignited, determined in accordance with the provisions of Chapter II and the rules made thereunder;

3[(d) "to transport petroleum" means to move petroleum from one place to another in India and includes moving from one place to another in India across a territory which is not part of India;]

(e) "to import" petroleum means to bring it into 4[India] by land, sea or air, otherwise than during the course of transport;

(f) "to store" petroleum means to keep it in any one place, but does not include any detention happening during the ordinary course of transport;

(g) "motor conveyance" means any vehicle, vessel or aircraft for the conveyance of human beings, animals or goods, by land, water or air, in which petroleum is used to generate the motive power;

(h) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act.

5* * * * *

Section 2, The Petroleum Act, 1934 (Act 30 of 1934).

Cross-references

Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.

Referred to by 1

  1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands Municipal Regulation 1994 s. 2

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. Bhavik Jagdishbhai Kotecha (Jayshree Bio Diesel Pump) v. State of Gujarat

    High Court 22 Aug 2019 Persuasive (High Court) SCA No.17053/2018 (with SCA 5189/2019 & 2958/2019); Oral Judgment 22.08.2019 (A.Y. Kogje J.)

    Court's Decision & Legal Precedent

    Gujarat HC construed Petroleum Act s.2(a) definition of “petroleum” (liquid hydrocarbon / inflammable mixture containing hydrocarbon) in a bio-diesel seizure/show-cause challenge, declined a premature holding that bio-diesel is wholly outside “petroleum”, noted Class C storage-licence practice under the Rules, and let show-cause proceed while releasing seized stock. DATE VERIFIED Final Order 2019-08-22 (order-2.pdf).

    On this section: s.2 Definitions — “petroleum” under s.2(a) applied to disputed bio-diesel; court refused hasty exclusion from the definition at SCN stage.

    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 2

What have the courts held on Section 2 of the Petroleum Act?

Bhavik Jagdishbhai Kotecha (Jayshree Bio Diesel Pump) v. State of Gujarat (22 Aug 2019) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: s.2 Definitions — “petroleum” under s.2(a) applied to disputed bio-diesel; court refused hasty exclusion from the definition at SCN stage.

How do I find court cases under Section 2 of the Petroleum 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: Petroleum Act 1934 2, section 2 Petroleum Act 1934, section 2 of the Petroleum 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 Bhavik Jagdishbhai Kotecha (Jayshree Bio Diesel Pump) v. State of Gujarat (22 Aug 2019).

What should I read with Section 2 of the Petroleum Act, and has it changed?

1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it.

When did Section 2 of the Petroleum Act come into force?

Section 2 of the Petroleum Act, cited as Petroleum Act 1934 2, came into force on 30 Mar 1937, having been enacted on 06 Sep 1934. 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.