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HACKNEY CARRIAGE ACT, 1879 HACKNEY CARRIAGE ACT, 1879 STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS "The want of a law to regulate Hackney Carriages in towns and cantonments in the interior of India has long been felt and has lately been pressed upon the notice of the Government of India by the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab and His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief. The present Bill has been prepared to supply this want in the case of municipalities in those parts of India which have no local Legislatures, and in all cantonments, whether in British India or in Native States. It gives power to the Municipal Committee, in the case of a municipality, and to the Local Government, in the case of a cantonment, to make rules (subject, in the former case, to the sanction of the Local Government, and in the latter to that of the Governor-General in Council) to ensure that carriages offered for hire and the animals and harness used with them, shall be in proper condition; that fit persons shall be employed as drivers; that the fares charged shall be reasonable, and that the carriages shall not be over laden. It further provides that breach of these rules shall be punishable with fine which may extend to fifty rupees, and that disputes between the hirer and owner of a carriage as to the amount of fare, shall be determinable by a Magistrate."-Gazette of India, 1879, Part V, page 52. An Act for the regulation and control of hackney-carriages in certain Municipalities and Cantonments . Preamble.- Whereas it is expedient to provide for the regulation and control of hackney- carriages in certain municipalities and cantonments. It is hereby enacted as follows:- This Act has been extended to the States merged in the State of- Madhya Pradesh by M. P. Act 12 of 1950. Punjab by Punj. Act 5 of 1950. For the applicability of this Act to the former C. P. and Berar, see the Note and Adaptation given under