Motor Vehicles Act Section 182A — Punishment for offences relating to construction, maintenance, sale and alteration of motor vehicles and components
CHAPTER XIII OFFENCES, PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE
Civil
Summary
Sub-section (1) covers manufacturers, importers, or dealers of motor vehicles. If such a person sells, delivers, alters, or offers to sell, deliver, or alter a vehicle that goes against Chapter VII of this Act or its related rules and regulations, they can be punished with imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of one lakh rupees per vehicle, or both. However, there is a protection: a person will not be convicted if they can prove that, at the time of the sale, delivery, alteration, or offer, they had disclosed to the other party exactly how the vehicle was in contravention of Chapter VII or its rules.
Sub-section (2) applies specifically to manufacturers of motor vehicles. If a manufacturer fails to comply with the provisions of Chapter VII or the rules and regulations made under it, they can be punished with imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to one hundred crore rupees, or both.
Sub-section (3) deals with the sale of motor vehicle components. If a person sells, offers to sell, or permits the sale of any component that the Central Government has notified as a critical safety component, and that component does not comply with Chapter VII or its rules and regulations, they can be punished with imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of one lakh rupees per such component, or both.
Sub-section (4) covers vehicle owners. If an owner alters a motor vehicle, including by retrofitting motor vehicle parts, in a way that is not permitted under this Act or its rules and regulations, they can be punished with imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of five thousand rupees per alteration, or both.
Official Text
(1) Whoever, being a manufacturer, importer or dealer of motor vehicles, sells or delivers or alters or offers to sell or deliver or alter, a motor vehicle that is in contravention of the provisions of Chapter VII or the rules and regulations made thereunder, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine of one lakh rupees per such motor vehicle or with both:
Provided that no person shall be convicted under this section if he proves that, at the time of sale or delivery or alteration or offer of sale or delivery or alteration of such motor vehicle, he had disclosed to the other party the manner in which such motor vehicle was in contravention of the provisions of Chapter VII or the rules and regulations made thereunder.
(2) Whoever, being a manufacturer of motor vehicles, fails to comply with the provisions of Chapter VII or the rules and regulations made thereunder, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to one hundred crore rupees or with both.
(3) Whoever, sells or offers to sell, or permits the sale of any component of a motor vehicle which has been notified as a critical safety component by the Central Government and which does not comply with Chapter VII or the rules and regulations made thereunder shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine of one lakh rupees per such component or with both.
(4) Whoever, being the owner of a motor vehicle, alters a motor vehicle, including by way of retrofitting of motor vehicle parts, in a manner not permitted under the Act or the rules and regulations made thereunder shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine of five thousand rupees per such alteration or with both.