motor transport act in arif creation

THE MOTOR TRANSPORT WORKERS ACT, 1961

CONTENTS
Introduction

Sections

CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, extent, commencement and application

2. Definitions


CHAPTER II
REGISTRATION OF MOTOR TRANSPORT UNDERTAKINGS
3. Registration of motor transport undertaking


CHAPTER III
INSPECTING STAFF
4. Chief inspector and inspectors

5. Powers of the inspectors

6. Facilities to be afforded to inspectors

7. Certifying surgeons


CHAPTER IV
WELFARE AND HEALTH
8. Canteens

9. Rest rooms

10. Uniforms

11. Medical facilities

12. First-aid facilities


CHAPTER V
HOURS AND LIMITATIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
13. Hours of work for adult motor transport workers

14. Hours of work for adolescents employed as motor transport workers

15. Daily intervals for rest

16. Spread-over

17. Split duty

18. Notice of hours of work

19. Weekly rest

20. Compensatory day of rest












Contents

---

Sections
Pages

CHAPTER VI
EMPLOYMENT OF YOUNG PERSONS
21. Prohibition of employment of children

22. Adolescents employed as motor transport workers to carry tokens

23. Certificate of fitness

24. Power to require medical examination


CHAPTER VII
WAGES AND LEAVE
25. Act 4 of 1936 to apply to payment of wages to motor transport workers

26. Extra wages for overtime

27. Annual leave with wages

28. Wages during leave period


CHAPTER VIII
PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE
29. Obstructions

30. Use of false certificate of fitness

31. Contravention of provisions regarding employment of motor transport workers

32. Other offences

33. Enhanced penalty after previous conviction

34. Offences by companies

35. Cognizance of offences

36. Limitation of prosecutions


CHAPTER IX
MISCELLANEOUS
37. Effect of laws and agreements inconsistent with this Act

38. Exemptions

39. Powers to give directions

40. Power to make rules





















1

---

THE MOTOR TRANSPORT WORKERS ACT, 1961

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

There are at present certain enactments like the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939 and the Factories Act, 1948,
which cover certain sections of motor transport workers and certain aspects of their conditions of
employment. There is, however, no independent legislation applicable to motor transport workers as a
whole or for regulating the various aspects of their conditions of employment work and wages. It is
considered desirable to have a separate legislative measure for motor transport workers which would cover
matters like medical facilities, welfare facilities, hours of work spread-over, rest periods, overtime, annual
leave with pay, etc., on the analogy of similar enactments for workers in factories, mines and plantations.
The present Bill is intended to achieve this object.

2. The notes on clauses explain the main provisions contained in the Bill.
Act 27 of 1961

The Motor Transport Workers Bill received the assent of the President on 20th May, 1961 after being
passed by both the Houses of Parliament and came into force as the Motor Transport workers Act, 1961 (27
of 1961).
List of Amending Acts
1. The Central Labour Laws (Extension to Jammu and Kashmir) Act, 1970 (51 of 1970).
2. The Delegated Legislative Provisions (Amendment) Act, 1985 (4 of 1986)
































2

---

THE MOTOR TRANSPORT WORKERS ACT, 1961
(27 of 1961)1
[20th May, 1961]

An Act to provide for the welfare of motor transport workers and to regulate the
conditions of their work

Be it enacted by Parliament in the Twelfth Year of the Republic of India as follows:-
Chapter I
PRELIMINARY

1. Short title, extent, commencement and application.- (1) This Act may be called the Motor
Transport Workers Act, 1961.

(2) It extends to the whole of India 2[***].

(3) It shall come into force on such date, not being later than the 31st day of March, 1962, as the
central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint and different dates may be
appointed for different States:

3[Provided that it shall come into force in the state of Jammu and Kashmir on the commencement of
the Central Labour Laws (Extension to Jammu and Kashmir) Act 1970 (51 of 1970].

(4) It applies to every motor transport undertaking employing five or more motor transport workers :

Provided that the state Government may, after giving not less than two months’ notice of its intention
so to do, by notification in the Official Gazette, apply all or any of the provisions of this Act to any motor
transport undertaking employing less than five motor transport workers.

2. Definitions.-In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a) “adolescent” means a person who has completed his fifteenth year but has not completed his
eighteenth year:

(b) “adult” means a person who has completed his eighteenth year:

(c) “child” means a person who has not completed his fifteenth year

(d) “day” means a period of twenty-four hours beginning at midnight:


Provided that where a motor transport worker’s duty commences before midnight but extends beyond
midnight, the following day for him shall be deemed to be the period of twenty-four hours beginning when
such duty ends, and the hours he has worked after midnight shall be counted in the previous day.
(e) “employer” means, in relation to any motor transport undertaking, the person who, or the authority
which, has the ultimate control over the affairs of the motor transport undertaking, and where the said
affairs are entrusted to any other person whether called a manager, managing director, managing agent or
by any other name, such other person,

1 This Act has been extended to Dadra and Nagar Haveli by Regulation 6 of 1963, sec. 2 and Sch. I’
Pondicherry by Regulation 7 of 1963, sec. 3 and Goa, Daman and Diu by Regulation II of 1963, sec. 3 and
Sch

2 The words “except the State of Jammu and Kashmir” omitted by Act 51 of 1970, sec. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f.
1-9-1971)

3 Added by Act 51 of 1970, sec. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f. 1-9-1971)




3

---

(f) “hours of work” means the time during which a motor transport worker is at the disposal of the
employer or of any other person entitled to claim his services and includes-


(i) The time spent in work done during the running time of the transport vehicle;


(ii) The time spent in subsidiary work; and
(iii) Periods of mere attendance at terminals of less than fifteen minutes.
Explanation. - For the purpose of this clause –

(1) “running time” in relation to a working day means the time from the moment a transport vehicle
starts functioning at the beginning of the working day until the moment when the transport vehicle
ceases to function at the end of the working day, excluding any time during which the running of
the transport vehicle is interrupted for a period exceeding such duration as may be prescribed
during which period the persons who drive, or perform any other work in connection with the
transport vehicle are free to dispose of their time as they please or are engaged in subsidiary work;

(2) “subsidiary work” means work in connection with a transport vehicle, its passengers or its load
which is done outside the running time of the transport vehicle, including in particular -

(i) work in connection with accounts, the paying in of cash, the signing of registers, the handling in of
service sheets, the checking of tickets and other similar work;

(ii) the taking over and garaging of the transport vehicles;

(iii) travelling from the place where a person signs on to the place where he takes over the transport
vehicle and from the place where he leaves the transport vehicle to the place where he signs off;

(iv) work in connection with the upkeep and repair of the transport vehicle; and

(v) the loading and unloading of the transport vehicle;

(3) “period of mere attendance” means the period during which a person remains at his post solely in
order to reply to possible calls or to resume action at the time fixed in the duty schedule;
(g) “motor transport undertaking” means a motor transport undertaking engaged in carrying
passengers or goods or both by road for hire or reward, and includes a private carrier;

(h) “motor transport worker” means a person who is employed in a motor transport undertaking
directly or through an agency, whether for wages or not, to work in a professional capacity on a
transport vehicle or to attend to duties in connection with the arrival, departure, loading or
unloading of such transport vehicle and includes a driver, conductor, cleaner, station staff, line
checking staff, booking clerk, cash clerk, depot clerk, time-keeper, watchman or attendant, but
except in section 8 does not include-

(i) any such person who is employed in a factory as defined in the Factories Act, 1948 (63 of 1948);

(ii) any such person to whom the provisions of any law for the time being in force regulating the
conditions of service of persons employed in shops or commercial establishments apply;

(i) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

( j ) “qualified medical practitioner” means a person having a certificate granted by an authority
specified in the Schedule to the Indian Medical Degrees Act, 1916 (7 of 1916), or notified under
section 3 of that Act or specified in the schedules to the Indian medical council Act, 1956 (102 of
1956), and includes any person having a certificate granted under any Provincial or State Medical
Council Act;

(k) “spread-over” means the period between the commencement of duty on any day and the
termination of duty on that day;

(l) “wages” has the meaning assigned to it in clause (vi) of section 2 of the Payment of Wages Act,
1936 (4 of 1936);

4

---

(m) “week” means the period between midnight on Saturday night and midnight on the succeeding
Saturday night;

(n) all other words and expressions used but not defined in this Act and defined in the Motor Vehicles
Act, 1939 (4 of 1939), shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in that Act.

Chapter II
REGISTRATION OF MOTOR TRANSPORT UNDERTAKINGS

3. Registration of motor transport undertaking.--(1) Every employer of a motor transport
undertaking to which this Act applies shall have the undertaking registered under this Act.

(2) An application for the registration of a motor transport undertaking shall be made by the employer
to the prescribed authority in such form and within such time as may be prescribed.

(3) Where a motor transport undertaking is registered under this Act, there shall be issued to the
employer a certificate of registration containing such particulars as may be prescribed.
CHAPTER III
INSPECTING STAFF

4. Chief inspector and inspectors. --(1) the State Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, appoint for the State a duly qualified person to be the chief inspector and as many duly qualified
persons to be inspectors subordinate to the chief inspector as it thinks fit.

(2) The chief inspector may declare the local limits within which inspectors shall exercise their
powers under this Act, and may himself exercise the powers of an inspector within such local limits as
maybe assigned to him by the State Government.

(3) The Chief inspector and all inspectors shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of
section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).

5. Powers of the inspectors.--(1) Subject to such conditions and restrictions as the State
Government may by general or special order impose, the chief inspector or an inspector may--

(a) make such examination and inquiry as he thinks fit in order to ascertain whether the provisions of
this Act or rules made thereunder are being observed in the case of any motor transport
undertaking, and for that purpose require the driver of a transport vehicle to cause the transport
vehicle to stop and remain stationary so long as may reasonably be necessary;
(b) with such assistance, if any, as he thinks fit, enter, inspect and search any premises which he has
reason to believe is under use or occupation of any motor transport undertaking at any reasonable
time for the purpose of carrying out the objects of the Act;

(c) examine any motor transport worker employed in a motor transport undertaking or require the
production of any register or other document maintained in pursuance of this Act, and take on the
spot or otherwise statements of any person which he may consider necessary for carrying out the
purposes of this Act;

(d) seize or take copy of such registers or documents or portions thereof as he may consider relevant
in respect of an offence under this Act which he has reason to believe has been committed by an
employer;

(e) exercise such other powers as may be prescribed;

Provided that no person shall be compelled under this sub-section to answer any question or make any
statement tending to incriminate himself.

(2) The provisions of the Code of criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898), shall, so far as may be, apply
to any search or seizure under this section as they apply to any search or seizure made under the authority
of a warrant issued under section 98 of the said Code.

6. Facilities to be afforded to inspectors.--Every employer shall afford the chief inspector and an
inspector all reasonable facilities for making any entry, inspection, examination or inquiry under this Act.

5

---

7. Certifying surgeons.--(1) The State Government may appoint qualified medical practitioners to
be certifying surgeons for the purposes of this act within such local limits or for such motor transport
undertakings or class of motor transport undertakings as it may assign to them respectively.

(2) The certifying surgeon shall perform such duties as may be prescribed in connection with--

(a) the examination and certification of motor transport workers;

(b) the exercise of such medical supervision as may be prescribed where adolescents are, or are to be,
employed as motor transport workers in any work in any motor transport undertaking which is
likely to cause injury to their health.
CHAPTER IV
WELFARE AND HEALTH

8. Canteens. --(1) The State Government may make rules requiring that in every place wherein one
hundred motor transport workers or more employed in a motor transport undertaking ordinarily call on duty
during every day, one or more canteens shall be provided and maintained by the employer for the use of the
motor transport workers.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for --

(a) the date by which the canteens shall be provided;

(b) the number of canteens that shall be provided and the standards in respect of construction,
accommodation, furniture and other equipment of the canteens;
(c) the foodstuffs which may be served therein and the charges which may be made therefor;

(d) the constitution of a managing committee for a canteen and the representation of the motor
transport workers in the management of the canteen.

(3) The State Government may, subject to such conditions as it may impose, delegate to the chief
inspector the power to make rules with reference to clause (c) sub-section (2).

9 Rest rooms- (1) In every place wherein motor transport workers employed in a motor transport
undertaking are required to halt at night, there shall be provided and maintained the employer for the
use of those motor transport workers such number of rest rooms or such other suitable alternative
accommodation, as may be prescribed.


(2) The rest rooms or the alternative accommodation to be provided under sub-section (1) shall be
sufficiently lighted and ventilated and shall be maintained in a clean and comfortable condition.

(3) The State Government may prescribe the standards in respect of construction, accommodation,
furniture and other equipment of rest rooms or the alternative accommodation to be provided under this
section.


10. Uniforms- (1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules
requiring an employer of a motor transport undertaking to provide for the drivers, conductors and line
checking staff employed in that undertaking such number and type of uniforms, raincoats or other like
amenities for their protection from rain or cold as may be specified in the rules.

(2) There shall be paid to the drivers, conductors and line checking staff by the employer an
allowance for washing of uniforms provided under sub-section (1) at such rates as may be prescribed;


Provided that no such allowance shall be payable by an employer who has made at his own cost
adequate arrangements for the washing of uniforms.

11. Medical facilities- There shall be provided and maintained by the employer so as to be readily
available such medical facilities for the motor transport workers at such operating centres and halting
stations as may be prescribed by the State government.


6

---

12. First-aid facilities- (1) There shall be provided and maintained by the employer so as to be
readily accessible during all working hours a first –aid box equipped with the prescribed contents in every
transport vehicle.

(2) Nothing except the prescribed contents shall be kept in a first- aid box.
(3) The first-aid box shall be kept in the charge of the driver or the conductor of the transport vehicle
who shall be provided facilities for training in the use thereof.


CHAPTER V

HOURS AND LIMITATION OF EMPLOTMENY

13. Hours of work for adult motor transport workers--No adult motor transport worker shall be
required or allowed to work for more than eight hours in any day and forty-eight hours in any week:

Provided that where any such motor transport worker is engaged in the running of any motor transport
service on such long distance routes, or on such festive and other occasions as may be notified in the
prescribed manner by the prescribed authority, the employer may, with the approval of such authority,
require or allow such motor transport worker to work for more than eight hours in any day or forty-eight
hours in any week but in no case for more than ten hours in a day and fifty-four in hours in a week, as the
case may be :

Provided further that in the case of a breakdown or dislocation of a motor transport service or
interruption of traffic or act of God, the employer may, subject to such conditions and limitations as may be
prescribed, require or allow any such motor transport worker to work for more than eight hours in any day
or more than forty-eight hours in any week.

14. Hours of work for adolescents employed as motor transport workers.--No adolescent shall be
employed or required to work as a motor transport worker in any motor transport undertaking--

(a) for more than six hours a day including rest interval of half-an-hour;

(b) between the hours of 10 P.M. and 6 A.M.

15. Daily intervals for rest.--(1) The hours of work in relation to adult motor transport workers on
each day shall be so fixed that no period of work shall exceed five hours and that no such motor transport
worker shall work for more than five hours before he has had on interval for rest for at least half-an-hour;

Provided that the provisions of this sub-section in so far as they relate to interval for rest shall not
apply to a motor transport worker who is not required to work for more than six hours on that day.

(2) The hours of work on each day shall be so fixed that a motor transport worker is, except in any
case referred to in the second provision to section 13, allowed a period of rest of at least nine consecutive
hours between the termination of duty on any one day and the commencement of duty on the next
following day.

16. Spread-over.--(1) The hours of work of an adult motor transport worker shall, except in any case
referred to in the second provision to section 13 be so arranged that inclusive of interval for rest under
section 15, they shall not spread-over more than twelve hours in any day.

(2) The hours of work of an adolescent motor transport worker shall be so arranged that inclusive of
interval for rest under section 14, they shall not spread-over more than nine hours in any day.

17. Split duty.--Subject to the other provisions contained in this Act, the hours of work of a motor
transport worker shall not be split into more than two spells on any day.

18. Notice of hours of work.--(1) There shall be displayed and correctly maintained by every
employer a notice of hours of work in such form and manner as may be prescribed showing clearly for
every day the hours during which motor transport workers may be required to work.

(2) Subject to the other provisions contained in this Act, no such motor transport worker shall be
required or allowed to work otherwise than in accordance with the notice of hours of work so displayed.


7

---

19. Weekly rest.--(1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules
providing for a day of rest in every period of seven days, which shall be allowed to all motor transport
workers.

(2) Not with standing anything contained in sub-section (1), an employer may, in order to prevent any
dislocation of a motor transport service, require a motor transport worker to work on any day of rest which
is not a holiday so, however, that the motor transport worker does not work for more than ten days
consecutively without a holiday for a whole day intervening.

(3) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall apply to any motor transport worker whose total period
of employment including any day spent on leave is less than six day.

20. Compensatory day of rest. -- Where, as a result of any exemption granted to an employer under
the provisions of this Act from the operation of section 19, a motor transport worker is deprived of any of
the days of rest to which he is entitled under that section, the motor transport worker shall be allowed
within the month in which the days of rest are due to him or within two months immediately following that
month, compensatory days of rest of equal number to the days of rest so lost.


CHAPTER VI
EMPLOYMENT OF YOUNG PERSONS

21. Prohibition of employment of children.--No child shall be required or allowed to work in any
capacity in any motor transport undertaking.

22. Adolescents employed as motor transport workers to carry tokens.--No adolescent shall be
required or allowed to work as a motor transport worker in any motor transport undertaking unless--

(a) a certificate of fitness granted with reference to him under section 23 is in the custody of the
employer; and

(b) such adolescent carries with him while he is at work a token giving a reference to such certificate.

23. Certificate of fitness.--(1) A certifying surgeon shall, on the application of any adolescent or his
parent or guardian accompanied by a document signed by the employer or any other person on his behalf
that such person will be employed as a motor transport worker in a motor transport undertaking if certified
to be fit for that work, or on the application of the employer or any other person on his behalf with
reference to any adolescent intending to work, examine such person and ascertain his fitness for work as a
motor transport worker.

(2) A certificate of fitness granted under this section shall be valid for a period of twelve months from
the date thereof, but may be renewed.

(3) Any fee payable for a certificate under this section shall be paid by the employer and shall not be
recoverable from the adolescent, his parent or guardian.
24. Power to require medical examination.--Where an inspector is of opinion that a motor transport
worker working in any motor transport undertaking without a certificate of fitness is an adolescent, the
inspector may serve on the employer a notice requiring that such adolescent motor transport worker shall
be examined by a certifying surgeon and such adolescent motor transport worker shall not, if the inspector
so directs, be employed or permitted to work in any motor transport undertaking until he has been so
examine and has been granted a certificate of fitness under section 23.


CHAPTER VII
WAGES AND LEAVE

25. Act 4 of 1936 to apply to payment of wages to motor transport workers.--The payment of
Wages Act, 1936, as in force for the time being, shall apply to motor transport workers engaged in a motor
transport undertaking as it applies to wages payable in an industrial establishment as if the said Act had
been extended to the payment of wages of such motor transport workers by a notification of the State
Government under sub-section (5) of section I thereof, and as if a motor transport undertaking were and
industrial establishment within the meaning of the said Act.


8

---

26. Extra wages for overtime.--(1) Where an adult motor transport worker works for more than eight
hours in any day in any case referred to in the first provision to section 13 or where he is required to work
on any day of rest under sub-section (2) of section 19, he shall be entitled to wages at the rate of twice his
ordinary rate of wages in respect of the overtime work or the work done on the day of rest, as the case may
be.

(2) Where an adult motor transport worker works for more than eight hours in any day in any case
referred to in the second proviso to section 13, he shall be entitled to wages in respect of the overtime work
at such rates as may be prescribed.

(3) Where an adolescent motor transport worker is required to work on any day of rest under sub-
section (2) of sub-section 19, he shall be entitled to wages at the rate of twice his ordinary rate of wages in
respect of the work done on the day of rest.

(4) For the purposes of this section, “ordinary rate of wages” in relation to a motor transport worker
means his basic wages plus dearness allowance.

27. Annual leave with wages.--(1) Without prejudice to such holidays as may be
prescribed, every motor transport worker who has worked for a period of two hundred and
forty days or more in a motor transport undertaking during a calendar year shall be
allowed during the subsequent calendar year leave with wages for a number of days
calculated at the rate of -

(a) if an adult, one day for every twenty days of work performed by him during the previous calendar
year; and

(b) if an adolescent, one day for every fifteen days of work performed by him during the previous
calendar year.

(2) A motor transport worker whose service commences otherwise than on the first day of January
shall be entitled to leave with wages at the rate laid down in clause (a) or, as the case may be, clause (b) of
sub-section (1) if he has worked for two-thirds of the total number of days in the remainder of the calendar
year.

(3) If a motor transport worker is discharged or dismissed from service during the course of the year,
he shall be entitled to leave with wages at the rate laid down in sub-section (1), even if he has not worked
for the entire period specified in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), entitling him to earned leave.

(4) In calculating leave under this section, fraction of leave of half a day or more shall be treated as
one full day’s leave, and fraction of less than half a day shall be omitted.

(5) If a motor transport worker does not in any one calendar year take the whole of the leave allowed
to him under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), as the case may be, any leave not taken by him shall be
added to the leave to be allowed to him in the succeeding calendar year:

Provided that the total number of days of leave that may be carried forward to a succeeding year shall
not exceed thirty in the case of an adult or forty in the case of an adolescent.

(6) In this section “calendar year” means the year commencing on the first day of January.

Explanation.--For the purposes of this section, leave shall not include weekly holidays or holidays for
festival or other similar occasions whether occurring during or at either end of the period of leave.

28. Wages during leave period.--(1) For the leave allowed to a motor transport worker under section
27, he shall be paid at the rate equal to the daily average of his total full time wages for the days on which
he worked during the moth immediately preceding his leave, exclusive of any overtime earnings and bonus,
if any, but inclusive of dearness allowance and the cash equivalent of the advantage, if any, accruing by the
concessional supply by the employer of food grains for the day on which he worked.

(2) A motor transport worker who has been allowed leave for not less than four days under section 27
shall, on an application made by him in this behalf to the employer, be paid in advance, before his leave
begins, an approximate amount equivalent to the wages payable to him for the period of his leave and any
amount so paid shall be adjusted against the wages due to him for the aforesaid period of leave.
(3) If a motor transport worker is not granted leave to which he is entitled under sub-section (3) of
section 27, he shall be paid wages in lieu thereof at the rate specified in sub-section (1).

9

---