The Stage-Carriages Act, 1861
THE STAGE-CARRIAGES ACT, 1861

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ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

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PREAMBLE
SECTIONS

1. Definition of stage-carriage.

2. Carriages to be licensed.

3. Power to refuse license.

Particulars of license.

4. Charge for and duration of license.

5. Particulars to be painted on conspicuous part of carriage.

6. Penalty for letting carriage without having particulars painted.

7. Penalty for letting for hire unlicensed carriage.

8. Penalty for allowing carriage to be drawn by fewer animals or more passengers, etc., to be

carried than provided by license.

9. Penalty for ill-treating animals.

10. Revocation of license.

11. Penalty for not conforming to provisions of section 5.

12. Penalty for misconduct on part of drivers.

13. Penalty when recoverable from proprietor.

Proviso.

14. Issue of summons.

15. Adjudication of penalties.

16. Recovery of penalties, etc.

17. Offender may be apprehended and detained in custody until return of warrant of distress.

18. Imprisonment of offender if distress not sufficient.

19. [Repealed.].

20. Jurisdiction.

20A. Power to make rules.

21. Interpretation-clause.

“Magistrate”.

Act applicable to all animals used for drawing carriages.

22. Extent of Act.

23. Power to State Government to exempt.

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1[THE STAGE-CARRIAGES ACT, 1861]

ACT NO. 16 OF 1861

# An Act for licensing and regulating Stage-Carriages.



[7th July, 1861.]


**Preamble.—WHEREAS it is expedient to license and to regulate stage-carriages in** [2] [the

Provinces]; It is enacted as follows:—

**1. Definition of stage-carriage.—Every carriage drawn by one or more** [3]horses which shall

ordinarily be used for the purpose of conveying passengers for hire to or from any place in [4][the
States] shall, without regard to the form or construction of such carriage, be deemed to be a stagecarriage within the meaning of this Act.

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**2. Carriages to be licensed.—No carriage shall be used as a stage-carriage unless licensed by a**

6Magistrate or by the 7*** Commissioner of Police of a Presidency-town.

**3. Power to refuse license.—The Magistrate or** [7]*** Commissioner of Police to whom the

application for a license of a stage-carriage is made may refuse to license the same, if he shall be of
opinion that such stage-carriage is unserviceable or is unsafe or unfit for public accommodation or
use.

**Particulars of license.—If a Magistrate or [7]*** Commissioner of Police as aforesaid shall grant a**

license, the license shall set forth the number thereof, the name and residence of the proprietor of the
stage-carriage, the place at which his head office is held, the largest number of passengers and the
greatest weight of luggage to be carried in or on such carriage, the number of horses by which such
carriage is to be drawn, and the name of the place at which such carriage is licensed.

**4. Charge for and duration of license.—[8][For every such license there shall be paid by the**

proprietor of the stage-carriage the sum of five rupees or such less sum as the [9][State Government]
may fix, and such license shall be in force for one year from the date thereof.]

1. Short title given by the Indian Short Titles Act, 1897 (14 of 1897).

This Act, as amended by the Stage-Carriages Act (1861) Amendment Act, 1898 (1 of 1898), has been declared to apply

to all the States of India, but not so as to supersede or contravene provisions of local laws dealing with the same subject—see
s. 22. For local laws, see the Bombay Public Conveyance Act, 1920 (Bom. 7 of 1920), the Madras Hackney Carriage Act,
1911 (Mad. 5 of 1911), and the Calcutta Hackney Carriage Act, 1919 (Ben. 1 of 1919), _cf. also the Hackney Carriage Act,_
1879 (14 of 1879).

It has been declared, by notification under s. 3(a) of the Scheduled Districts Act, 1874 (14 of 1874), to be in force in the

following Scheduled Districts, namely:—

The Districts of Hazaribagh, Lohardaga (now the Ranchi

District, see Calcutta Gazette, 1899, Pt. I, p. 44) and Manbhum,
and Pargana Dhalbhum and the Kolhan in the District of
Singhbhum  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  See Gazette of India 1881, Pt. I, p. 504.
The Tarai of the Province of Agra . .  .  .  .  .  . . Ditto     1876, Pt. I, p. 505.
It has been declared, by notification under s.3(a) of the Santhal Parganas Justice and Laws Regulation, 1899
(3 of 1899), to be in force in the Santhal Parganas, see Calcutta Gazette, 1901, Pt. I, p. 301.
The Act has been amended in Himachal Pradesh by Himachal Pradesh Act 3 of 1974.

2. Subs. by the A.O. 1948, for “British India”.
3. All expressions and provisions in this Act applied to horses, also apply to all other animals employed in drawing stage
carriages, see s. 21, infra.

4. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “the Provinces” which had been subs. by the A.O. 1948, for “British India”.
5. Proviso to s. 1 which read: “Provided that this Act shall not apply to carriages not ordinarily used for journeys of a greater

distance than twenty miles” rep. by Act 1 of 1898, s. 2.

6. For definition of “Magistrate”, see s. 21, infra.
7. The word “Chief” rep. by Act 10 of 1914, s. 3 and the Second Schedule.
8. Subs. by Act 1 of 1898, s. 3, for the original paragraph.
9. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Provincial Government” which had been subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “L.G.”

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When a licensed stage-carriage is transferred to a new proprietor within the year, the name of such

new proprietor shall, on application to that effect, be substituted in the license for the name of the
former proprietor without any further payment for that year; and every person who appears by the
license to be the proprietor, shall be deemed to be such proprietor for all the purposes of this Act.

**5. Particulars to be painted on conspicuous part of carriage.—On any stage-carriage**

being licensed, the proprietor thereof shall cause the number of the license and all the other particulars
of the license to be distinctly painted in the English language and character upon a conspicuous part of
such stage-carriage.

**6. Penalty for letting carriage without having particulars painted.—The proprietor of**

any licensed stage-carriage who shall let such stage-carriage for hire without the particulars specified
in section 3 being painted on such carriage in the manner directed in the last preceding section, shall
be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred rupees.

**7. Penalty for letting for hire unlicensed carriage.—Whoever lets for hire any stage-**

carriage without the same being licensed as provided by this Act, shall be liable, on a first conviction,
to a fine not exceeding one hundred rupees, and on any subsequent conviction, to a fine which may
extend to five hundred rupees.

**8. Penalty for allowing carriage to be drawn by** **fewer animals or more passengers,**

**etc., to be carried than provided by license.—Any proprietor, or agent of a proprietor, or any**
driver of a licensed stage-carriage, who knowingly permits such carriage to be drawn by a less
number of horses, or who knowingly permits a larger number of passengers, or a greater weight of
luggage, to be carried by such stage-carriage than shall be provided by the license, shall be liable on a
first conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred rupees, and on any subsequent conviction, to a
fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.

In every case where such stage-carriage shall be proved to have been drawn by a less number of

horses, or to have carried a larger number of passengers or a greater weight of luggage, than shall be
provided by the license, the proprietor of such carriage shall be held to have knowingly permitted
such offence, unless he shall prove that the offence was not committed with his connivance, and that
he had taken every reasonable precaution and had made reasonable provision to prevent the
commission of the offence.

**9. Penalty for ill-treating animals.—Any person who shall cruelly beat, ill-treat, over-drive,**

abuse, torture or cause or procure to be cruelly beaten, ill-treated, over-driven, abused or tortured, any
horse employed in drawing or harnessed to any stage-carriage, or who shall harness to or drive in any
stage-carriage any horse which from sickness, age, wounds or other cause is unfit to be driven in such
stage-carriage, shall for every such offence be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred rupees.

**10. Revocation of license.—Any** Magistrate or [1]*** Commissioner of Police within the local

limits of whose jurisdiction any stage-carriage shall ply, or who has granted the license of any stagecarriage, may cancel the license of such stage-carriage if it shall appear to him that such stagecarriage or any horse or any harness used with such carriage is unserviceable or unsafe or otherwise
unfit for public accommodation or use.

**11. Penalty for not conforming to provisions of section 5.—In any station or place in**

which a Magistrate shall reside and be, any police-officer may, in any place within two miles of the
office of such Magistrate, seize any stage-carriage with the horse harnessed thereto, if the full
particulars of the license of such stage-carriage be not distinctly painted on such stage-carriage in the
manner provided in section 5 of this Act.

Such carriage with the horse harnessed thereto shall be taken without delay by such police-officer

before such Magistrate, who shall forthwith proceed to hear and determine the complaint of such
police-officer; and, if thereupon any fine is imposed by such Magistrate and such fine is paid, such
stage-carriage and horse shall be immediately released; and if such fine be not paid, such stage
1. The word “Chief” rep. by Act 10 of 1914, s. 3 and the Second Schedule.

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carriage and horse may be detained for twenty days as security for the payment thereof; and if the
fine be not sooner paid, they may be sold and the proceeds applied (so far as they extend) to the
payment of the said fine, and all costs and charges incurred on account of the detention and sale;
and the surplus (if any), when claimed, shall be paid to the proprietor of such carriage and horse; and
if such surplus be not claimed within a further period of two months from such sale, the same shall be
forfeited to the State.

If the proceeds of such sale do not fully pay the fine and costs and charges aforesaid, the balance

may be recovered as hereinafter provided.

**12. Penalty for misconduct on part of drivers.—If any driver of any stage-carriage, or any other**

person having the care thereof, shall, through intoxication, neglect, or by wanton or furious driving, or
by any other misconduct, endanger the safety of any passenger or other person, or shall injure or
endanger the property of the proprietor of such stage-carriage or of any other person, every such
person so offending shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred rupees.

**13. Penalty when recoverable from proprietor.—Whenever the driver of any stage-carriage or**

the owner of any horse employed in drawing any stage-carriage shall have committed any offence
against this Act for the commission whereof any penalty is by this Act imposed, other than an offence
specified in section 8, and such driver or owner shall not be known, or being known cannot be found,
or if the penalty cannot be recovered from such driver or owner, the proprietor of such carriage shall
be liable to every such penalty as if he had been the driver of such carriage or owner of such horse at
the time when such offence was committed:

**Proviso.—Provided that if any such proprietor shall make out, to the satisfaction of the Magistrate**

before whom any complaint or information shall be heard, by sufficient evidence, that the offence was
committed by such driver or owner without the privity or knowledge of such proprietor, and that no
profit, advantage, or benefit, either directly or indirectly, has accrued or can accrue to such proprietor
therefrom, and that he has used his endeavour to find out such driver or owner, and has done all that
was in his power to recover the amount of the penalty from him, the Magistrate may discharge the
proprietor from such penalty, and shall levy the same upon such driver or owner when found.

**14. Issue of summons.—Whenever any charge is made before any Magistrate of any offence**

under this Act on which it is necessary to issue a summons to the proprietor of a stage-carriage, the
Magistrate shall issue such summons directed to such proprietor or his nearest agent, and may
transmit such summons by letter-post, which shall be deemed to be good service thereof.

The letter shall be registered at the post-office, and the cost of the registration shall be borne by the

Government in the first instance, but may be charged as costs in the case.

The summons shall allow a reasonable time, in reference to the distance to which the summons is

sent, for the appearance of such proprietor or his agent as aforesaid.

**15. Adjudication of penalties.—All penalties incurred under this Act shall be adjudged by a**

Magistrate or [1]*** Commissioner of Police as aforesaid, and all orders made under this Act by such
Magistrate or [1]*** Commissioner of Police shall be final.

**16. Recovery of penalties, etc.—All penalties imposed under this Act, or any balance of any fine,**

costs, or charges as mentioned in section 11 of this Act, may in case of non-payment or non-recovery
thereof be levied by distress and sale of the movable property of the offender by warrant under the
hand of the Magistrate who imposed the same.

**17. Offender may be apprehended and detained in custody until return of warrant of**

**distress.—In case any such penalties shall not be forthwith paid, such Magistrate may order the**
offender to be apprehended and detained in safe custody until the return can be conveniently made to
such warrant of distress, unless the offender shall give security to the satisfaction of such Magistrate
for his appearance at such place and time as shall be appointed for the return of the warrant of
distress.

1. The word “Chief” rep. by Act 10 of 1914, s. 3 and the Second Schedule.

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**18. Imprisonment of offender if distress not sufficient.—If upon the return of such warrant it**

shall appear that no sufficient distress can be had whereon to levy such penalty, and the same shall not
be forthwith paid, or in case it shall appear to the satisfaction of such Magistrate by the confession of
the offender or otherwise that he has not sufficient goods and chattels whereupon such penalty could
be levied if warrant of distress were issued, such Magistrate may, by warrant under his hand, commit
the offender [1]*** to prison, there to be imprisoned, according to the discretion of such officer, for any
term not exceeding two calendar months when the amount of penalty shall not exceed fifty rupees,
and for any term not exceeding four calendar months when the amount shall not exceed one hundred
rupees, and for any term not exceeding six calendar months in any other case, the commitment to be
determinable in each of the cases aforesaid on payment of the amount.

**19. [Recovery of penalty and costs from European British subjects.] Rep. by the A.O. 1950.**

**20. Jurisdiction.—On complaint made before any Magistrate of any offence committed under this**

Act, it shall not be necessary to prove that the offence was committed within the local limits of such
Magistrate or other officer.

2[20A. Power to make rules.—(1) The 3[State Government] may, by notification in the Official

Gazette, make rules to carry out the purposes and objects of this Act in the territories under its
administration or any part of the said territories.

(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may—

(a) prescribe forms for licenses under this Act, the sums payable for the same and the

conditions on which they may be granted, and the cases in which they may be revoked;

(b) provide for the inspection of stage-carriages, and of the animals employed in drawing them;

and

(c) regulate the number and length of the stages for which animals may be driven in stage
carriages, and the manner in which they shall be harnessed and yoked.

(3) In making any rule under this section the [3][State Government] may direct that a breach thereof

shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.]

**21. Interpretation-clause.** **“Magistrate.”—The term “Magistrate” in this Act shall include all**

Magistrates and other persons exercising the powers of a Magistrate:

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**Act applicable to all animals used for drawing carriages.—[5][All expressions and provisions**

which in this Act are applied to horses shall also apply to all other animals employed in drawing any
carriage ordinarily used for the purpose of conveying passengers for hire to or from any place in the
States:]

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7[22. Extent of Act.—This Act, as amended by subsequent Acts, extends to the whole of India

except [8][the territories which, immediately before the 1st November, 1956, were comprised in Part B
States]; but it shall not apply to carriages ordinarily plying for hire within the limits of any
municipality or cantonment or other place in which any law for the regulation of carriages is for the
time being in force.

1. The words “provided he is not a European British subject” omitted by the A.O. 1950.
2. Added by Act 1 of 1898, s. 4.
3. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Provincial Government” which had been subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “L.G.”
4. The definition of “British India” omitted by the A.O. 1937.
5. Subs. by Act 16 of 1876, s. 1, for the third sentence of section 21.
6. The definitions relating to “number” and “gender” rep. by Act 10 of 1914, s. 3 and the Second Schedule.
7. Sections 22 and 23 added by Act 1 of 1898, s. 5. The original section 22 regarding the commencement of this Act as

originally passed had been rep. by Act 14 of 1870, s. 1 and the Schedule Part II.

8. Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 2) Order, 1956, for “Part B States”.

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**23. Power to State Government to exempt.—The [1][State Government] may, by notification in**

the Official Gazette, exempt any carriages or class of carriages from all or any of the provisions of
this Act.]

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1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Provincial Government” which had been subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “L.G.”

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