Section 108 in The Orissa Motor Vehicles Rules, 1993
108. Seating accommodation.
(1)In every public service vehicle, there shall be provided for each passenger a reasonably comfortable seating space of not less than 38 centimetres square measured on straight line along and at right angles to the front of each seat and the seating capacity of the vehicles shall be fixed by counting one passenger for every 38 centimetres square of seating space measured as above.(2)The seats in every public service vehicle, shall be provided with cushions, of not less than 3.50 centimetres in thickness made of foam, rubber or fibre-flex or equivalent materials and shall be covered by leather of rexin cloth.(3)There shall be a distance of not less than 135 centimetres and not more than 150 centimetres between the backs of the seats on one side and the backs of the seats on the other side, when the seats are placed along the vehicle.Provided that in every express stage carriage of deluxe stage carriage and in every stage carriage running on a route covering more than 160 Kilometres or comprising of any ghat road, as seats shall be placed across the vehicle facing the driver except that the seats in the left side of the engine may be placed along the vehicles in full forward control vehicle.(4)[ There shall be a clear space of sixty-five centimetres between the back surface of the back rest of one seat including the driver seat and the front surface of the back rest of the seat immediately behind when the seats are placed across the vehicle and are facing towards the driver.] [Substituted vide Orissa Gazette Extraordinary No. 686 dated 16.6.1994, Notification SRO No. 588/94 dated 6.6.1994.](5)There shall be a clear space of 125 centimetres between the back of the facing seats when the seats are placed across the vehicle and are facing each other.(6)Sub-rule (4) and (5) shall not apply to the seats in between which a door is placed and in that case, the space indicated in Sub-rules (4) and (5) shall not exceed 160 centimetres and 220 centimetres, respectively.(7)The backs of all seats shall be closed to a height of 40 centimetres above the seat level and the upper portion of the back rest shall be covered with cushion for not less than 21 centimetres from the top downwards and such cushion shall be of similar materials and covered as specified in Sub-rule (2) thickness of which being not less than 2.5 centimetres.(8)There shall be a clear space of not less than 27.9 centimetres between the front surface of the back rest of the driver's seat and the point of the stearing wheel nearest to the said surface.(9)(i)The driver's seat shall be separated by not less than 3 centimetres and not more than 15 centimetres from other seats when placed across the vehicle and along the line of the driver's seat. When the seats are placed along the vehicle the extreme end of the seats immediately behind the driver's seat shall not be separated from the back surface of the back rest of the driver's seat by more than 15 centimetres.(ii)The width of the driver's seats across the vehicle shall not be less than 68.6 centimetres and shall extend to the left of the centre of the steering column by no case less than 25.4 centimetres so that a line drown parallel to the axis of the vehicle through the centre of any gear lever, brake lever or other device to which the driver has to have frequent access, lies not less than 5.1 centimetres inside the width reserved for the driver's seat.(iii)The space reserved in accordance with Clause (ii) shall at the left hand end be enclosed with a regid wooden or other suitable partition to a height of not less than 30.5 centimetres, above the seat :Provided that this clause shall not be applicable to a vehicle with full forward control engine.(10)The Seat in every public service vehicle shall be so provided that in case of seats placed across the vehicle there shall not be a space of more than 15 centimetres between the back surface of the rear most seat and the inner surface of the last part of the body of the vehicle, When the seats are placed along the vehicle, there shall not be a space of more than 5 centimetres between the side of a seat and the adjoining inner surface of the side of the vehicle except when this seat is placed immediately behind the driver's seat;Provided that the above specification may be suitably altered under written orders from the State Transport Authority or the Regional Transport Authority, where the said Authority permits a motor vehicle to be used as a Delux Vehicle :Provided further that in such cases, a body design shall be submitted by the operator for approval by the State Transport Authority/Regional Transport Authority and the construction shall be taken up only after obtaining the written approval of any of the aforesaid Authorities, as the case may be, save that if no order is communicated within a period of three months from the date of submission of the body design in relation to a vehicle, it will be deemed that the body design has been approved.(11)These rules, so far as may apply, shall also be compiled with by goods carriage [and Deluxe Contract Carriage] [Inserted vide Orissa Gazette Extraordinary No. 2196 dated 14.11.2007.].(12)Inspection of the motor vehicle for fixation of the seating capacity under this rule shall be conducted by the Inspector of Motor Vehicles or in his absence by the Junior Inspector of Motor Vehicles or by any other Officer of Orissa Transport Engineering Service authorised by the Commissioner.(13)Not withstanding anything contained hereinbefore these rule shall not apply to motor cabs built by the manufacturers with the approval of Government of India.
