The Gazetteers Department

The Motor Vehicles department deals with the administration of the Motor Vehicles Tax and the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act of 1956; the Bombay Motor Vehicles Tax Act (LXV of 1958); Bombay Motor Vehicles (Taxation of Passengers) Act, 1958 and the Maharashtra Tax on Goods, (carried by road) Act, 1962. Under the first Act all motor vehicles have to be registered, all drivers have to take out a licence, which is given only on their passing the prescribed test of competence, the hours of work of drivers of transport vehicles are to be restricted, and third party insurance of all vehicles plying in public places has to be effected. It gives power to the State Government to subject vehicles to strict mechanical tests and to control the number of vehicles to be licensed for public hire, specifying their routes and also the freight rates. Fees are available for registration and for issue of licences and permits.

State Transport Authority.

There is a State Transport Authority for the State, and Regional Transport Authorities have been set up for convenient regions of the State. The State Transport Authority co-ordinate the activities of the Regional Transport Authorities. The Regional Transport Authority controls the motor transport in the region and deals with the issue of permits to different categories of transport vehicles according to the policy laid down by the State Transport Authority and the State Government from time to time. It also performs such duties as grant of authorisations to drive public service vehicles and conductors' licences, taking departmental action against those permit holders who contravene any condition of the permit etc.. and prescribing policy in certain important matters relating to motor transport in the region.

Regional Transport Authority.

The jurisdiction of the Regional Transport Authority for Poona Region with headquarters at Poona extends over Sangli district along with the districts of Poona, Satara, Kolhapur, Sholapur and Amadnagar. It consists of four official and six non-official members nominated by Government under subsection (1) of section 44 of the Motor Vehicles Act.

Regional Transport Officer.

The Regional Transport Officer functions as the Secretary and Executive Officer of the Regional Transport Authority. In his capacity as Regional Transport Officer he is the authority for licensing drivers and registering vehicles and also for prosecuting in cases of offences committed under the Motor Vehicles Act. Acting under the authority of the Regional Transport Authority he is responsible for all the duties connected with the issue of and countersignatures of authorisation to drive public service vehicles and conductors' licences, and with the grant, revocation, suspension and cancellation of permits for public carriers, private carriers, stage carriages and taxi cabs.

One Assistant Regional Transport Officer and one Supervisor assist the Regional Transport Officer, at headquarters. Nine Motor Vehicles Inspectors look after the work of registration, inspection of motor vehicles, testing of motor drivers and conductors, checking of motor vehicles and detecting offences under the Motor Vehicles Act. They are assisted by four Assistant Motor Vehicles Inspectors in these duties. One Motor Vehicle prosecutor looks after the prosecution work and conducts cases instituted in courts of law. He also assists the Regional Transport Officer in legal matters.

Liaison with Department.

This department has liaison with the Police department. The Police department carries out periodical checks of motor vehicles and detects offences under the Motor Vehicles Act. It also attends to references from the Motor Vehicles department regarding verification of character of applicants for public service vehicles authorisations, conductors' licences, taxi cab permits, etc. It also helps in the verification of non-use of vehicles and recoveries of arrears of taxes and in specifying particular places for bus stops, etc.

The District Magistrate is concerned with the department in connection with imposition of restrictions on road transport, fixation of speed limits, and location of motor stands at various places, etc.

Bombay Motor Vehicles Tax Act.

Under the Bombay Motor Vehicles Tax Act, taxes are levied on all motor vehicles except those designated and used solely for agricultural operations on farms and farm lands. The taxes are imposed according to the type of vehicle (e.g., motor cycles, tricycles, goods, vehicles, passenger vehicles, etc.) and their laden or unladen weight. The Act has removed all municipal and State tolls on motor vehicles. The rules made under this Act lay down that when a vehicle is to be registered within the State, the registering authority (i.e., the Regional Transport Officer/ Assistant Regional Transport Officer) shall verify the particulars furnished in the application for registration (e.g., the make of vehicle, its capacity, etc.), and determine the rate of the tax for which the vehicle is liable. Every registered owner who wants to use or keep for use any vehicle in the State has to pay the tax determined. In respect of transport vehicle the limits 'within which the vehicle will be plied (whether only within the limits of particular municipality or cantonment, or throughout the State) has also to be stated. A token for the payment of the tax will be issued by the Taxation Authority and this has to be attached to and carried on the vehicle at all times when the vehicle is in use in a public place. A fresh declaration has to be made annually, or every time the tax has to be paid, i.e., quarterly, half yearly or annually. The taxation authority before issuing the token in respect of the payment of the tax has to satisfy itself that every declaration is complete in all respects and the proper amount of tax has been paid. Every owner of a motor vehicle keeping his vehicle in non-use during any period has to give advance intimation of his intention of keeping his vehicle in non-use for any period for which he desires to be exempted from the payment of tax and declare the place of garage where the vehicle is kept while in non-use.

Bombay Motor Vehicles Act, 1958.

The Bombay Motor Vehicles (Taxation of Passengers) Act, 1958. envisages levy and payment to the State Government of a tax on all passengers carried by Stage carriages (including stage carriages used as contract carriages) at the rate of 15 per cent of the amount of the fares payable to the operator of the stage carriages except where such stage carriages ply exclusively within a municipal area or exclusively on such routes serving municipal and adjacent areas as may be approved by the State Government.

Maharashtra Tax on Goods Act, 1962.

The Maharashtra Tax on Goods (carried by road) Act, 1962, came into force with effect from October 1, 1962. The tax in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the rules made thereunder is leviable on goods carried by the operators of public goods vehicles at the rate of 3 per cent of the freight charged for the carriage of the goods.

The said Act also provides for the payment of tax on goods by lump-sum payment. The rates of lump-sum payment have been notified by Government. [ (Notification No. TGA 1062-(V) XII, dated 13th September 1962). The Director of Transport, State of Maharashtra, Bombay, is the authority to receive their returns or the lump-sum payment.]

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