The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988

72.  Grant   of stage carriage permits. 

1. Subject to the provisions of section 71 a Regional Transport Authority may, on an application made to it under section 70 grant a stage carriage permit in accordance with the application or with such modifications as it deems fit or refuse to grant such a permit:

Provided that no such permit shall be granted in respect of any route or area not specified in the application.

2. The  Regional Transport  Authority, if  it decides to grant a stage carriage  permit, may grant the permit for a stage carriage of a specified description  and may,  subject to any rules that may be made under this  Act, attach to the permit any one or more of the following conditions, namely:--

1. That the vehicles shall be used only in a specified area, or on a specified route or routes;
2. That the operation of the stage carriage shall be commenced with effect from a specified date;
3. the  minimum and  maximum number  of daily trips to be provided in  relation to  any  route  or  area  generally  or  on specified days and occasions;
4. that  copies of  the time-table  of the  stage carriage approved by  the Regional  Transport Authority shall be exhibited  on the vehicles and at specified stands and halts on the route or within the area;
5. that  the stage  carriage shall  be operated within such margins of deviation from the approved time-table as the Regional Transport Authority may from time to time specify;
6. that  within municipal  limits and such other areas and places as  may be  prescribed, passengers  or goods  shall not be      taken up or set down except at specified points;
7. the  maximum number  of  passengers  and  the  maximum weight of  luggage that  may be  carried on  the stage  carriage, either generally  or on specified occasions or at specified times and seasons;
8. the  weight and  nature of  passengers' luggage  that shall be carried free of charge, the total weight of luggage that may  be carried  in   relation  to   each  passenger,  and  the arrangements that  shall be  made for  the  carriage  of  luggage without causing inconvenience to passengers;
9. the rate of  charge that may be levied for passengers'      luggage in excess of the free allowance;
10. That vehicles of a specified type fitted with body conforming to approved specifications shall be used:

Provided that  the attachment  of this condition to a permit shall not  prevent the  continued use,  for a period of two years from the  date of  publication of the approved specifications, of any vehicle operating on that date;

11. That specified standards of comfort and cleanliness shall be maintained in the vehicles;
12. the  conditions subject  to which goods may be carried in the  stage carriage  in addition  to or  to the  exclusion  of passengers;
13. That fares shall be charged in accordance with the approved fare table;
14. that  a copy  of, or  extract  from,  the  fare  table approved by  the Regional  Transport Authority and particulars of any special  fares or  rates of  fares so approved for particular occasions shall  be  exhibited  on  the  stage  carriage  and  at specified stands and halts;
15. that  tickets bearing  specified particulars  shall  be issued to  passengers and  shall show  the fares actually charged and that  records of  tickets issued shall be kept in a specified manner;
16. That mails shall be carried on the vehicle subject to such conditions (including conditions as to the time in which mails are to be carried and the charges which may be levied) as may be specified;
17. The vehicles to be kept as reserve by the holder of the permit to maintain the operation and to provide for special occasions;
18. The conditions subject to which vehicle may be used as a contract carriage;
19. That specified arrangements shall be made for the housing, maintenance and repair of vehicle;
20. that any specified bus station or shelter maintained by Government or  a local  authority shall  be  used  and  that  any specified rent or fee shall be paid for such use;
21. that  the  conditions  of  the  permit  shall  not  be departed from,  save with  the approval of the Regional Transport Authority;
22. That the Regional Transport Authority may, after giving notice of not less than one month,--

1. Vary the conditions of the permit;
2. Attach to the permit further conditions:

Provided that  the  conditions  specified  in  pursuance  of clause (i)  shall not  be varied  so as  to  alter  the  distance covered by the original route by more than 24 kilometers, and any variation within  such  limits  shall  be  made  only  after the  Regional Transport Authority is satisfied that  such  variation will serve  the  convenience of the public and that it is not expedient to grant a separate permit  in respect of the original route as so varied or  any part thereof;

23. that  the holder  of a  permit shall  furnish to the Regional Transport  Authority such periodical returns, statistics and other  information as  the State  Government may from time to time prescribe;
24. Any other conditions which may be prescribed.