Rules for the import, transport and storage of petroleum
Section 4 of the Petroleum Act, 1934 deals with rules for the import, transport and storage of petroleum. The [Central Government] may makes rules-- (a) prescribing places where petroleum may be imported and prohibiting its import elsewhere; The Act came into force on 30 Mar 1937.
The 1[Central Government] may makes rules--
(a) prescribing places where petroleum may be imported and prohibiting its import elsewhere;
(b) regulating the import of petroleum;
(c) prescribing the periods within which licences for the import of 2[petroleum Class A] shall be applied for, and providing for the disposal, by confiscation or otherwise, of any 2[petroleum Class A] in respect of which a licence has not been applied for within the prescribed period or has been refused and which has not been exported;
(d) regulating the transport of petroleum;
(e) specifying the nature and condition of all receptacles and pipe-lines in which petroleum may be transported;
(f) regulating the places at which and prescribing the conditions subject to which petroleum may be stored;
(g) specifying the nature, situation and condition of all receptacles in which petroleum may be stored;
(h) prescribing the form and conditions of licences for the import of 2[petroleum Class A], and for the transport or storages of any petroleum, the manner in which applications for such licences shall be made, the authorities which may grant such licences and the fees which may be charged for such licences;
(i) determining in any class of cases whether a licence for the transport of petroleum shall be obtained by the consignor, consignee or carrier;
(j) providing for the granting of combined licences for the import, transport and storage of petroleum, or for any two of such purposes;
(k) prescribing the proportion in which any specified poisonous substance may be added to petroleum, and prohibiting the import, transport or storage of petroleum in which the proportion of any specified poisonous substance exceeds the prescribed proportion; and
(l) generally, providing for any matter which in 3[its] opinion is expedient for proper control over the import, transport and storage of petroleum 4[including the charging of fees for any services rendered in connection with the import, transport and storage of petroleum].
Section 4, 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.
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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Kohinoor Agencies v. The Joint Chief Controller of Explosives & Ors.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Madras HC held mid-term cancellation of a retail petrol-pump licence granted under the Petroleum Act/Rules requires the procedure prescribed under the Petroleum Act, 1934 and Rules; a mere PESO call for explanation from the oil company on a third-party objection does not by itself create a cause of action for mandamus, but any proposed cancellation must follow due notice and hearing under the Act/Rules. DATE VERIFIED Final Order 2025-03-11 (order-7.pdf).
On this section: s.4 Rules for import, transport and storage — cancellation/coercive steps against a licensed outlet must track the Rules made under s.4.
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
5 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.
Questions about Section 4
What have the courts held on Section 4 of the Petroleum Act?
Kohinoor Agencies v. The Joint Chief Controller of Explosives & Ors. (11 Mar 2025) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: s.4 Rules for import, transport and storage — cancellation/coercive steps against a licensed outlet must track the Rules made under s.4.
How do I find court cases under Section 4 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 4, section 4 Petroleum Act 1934, section 4 of the Petroleum Act. People searching for it also type petroleum act 1934 section 4. 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 Kohinoor Agencies v. The Joint Chief Controller of Explosives & Ors. (11 Mar 2025).
What should I read with Section 4 of the Petroleum Act, and has it changed?
3 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there are 5: most recently The Petroleum (Amendment) Rules, 2024 (2024), then The Petroleum (Amendment) Rules, 2021 (2021), and 3 more.
When did Section 4 of the Petroleum Act come into force?
Section 4 of the Petroleum Act, cited as Petroleum Act 1934 4, 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 19 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.