Section 165 in The West Bengal Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989
165. Carriage of goods in Stage and Contract Carriage.
(1)No goods shall be carried on the top deck of a double decked stage carriage.(2)No goods liable to foul the interior of the vehicle or to render it insanitary shall be carried at any time in any Stage Carriage or Contract Carriage whatever be the nature of the permit by which they are covered unless provided for in the permit.(3)The Regional Transport Authority may specify in any permit the goods which shall not be carried in Stage Carriage or a Contract Carriage or the conditions subject to which certain classes of goods may be so carried.(4)The Regional Transport Authority may attach to a Stage Carriage permit the condition that the carriage of service of carriage in respect of which the permit is granted shall carry mails at such routes as the Authority may, in consultation with the Postal Authorities, fix in that behalf from time to time.(5)Subject to the provisions of the preceding sub-rules, goods may be carried in a Stage Carriage at any time in accordance with the conditions specified in the permit provided that the obligation of the holder to carry passengers in accordance with the terms of the permit is discharged.(6)If the holder of a Stage Carriage permit uses a vehicle authorised by the permit for the carriage of goods to the detriment of the public convenience by failing thereby to meet the demand for passengers' transport, the Regional Transport Authority may, after giving the holder an opportunity of being heard, declare that a breach of the conditions of the permit has occurred and may, thereafter, proceed under the provisions of section 86 of the Act.(7)The Regional Transport Authority shall not authorise the use of a Contract Carriage (motor cab) for the carriage of goods exceeding 76 kilograms, save for special reasons, on particular occasions and subject to conditions and restrictions as may be specified on the permit.Explanation. -A Contract Carriage permit shall authorise the use of the vehicle for the carriage of the personal or household effects of hirer but not the carriage of general merchandise exceeding 76 kilograms.(8)When goods are carried in a Stage Carriage in addition to the passengers, the goods shall be of such a nature and shall be so packed and secured on the vehicle that no danger, inconvenience or discomfort is caused to any passenger. Such number of seats as may be specified in the permit shall be kept free and unimpeded for the use of passengers and the access to the entrance to and exit from the vehicle required under these rules shall be unobstructed.(9)The weight in kilograms of goods, exclusive of the luggage and personal effects of passengers carried on a Stage Carriage shall not exceed (N-X) x 150 where in relation to a single-decked Stage Carriage or to the lower deck of a double-decked Stage Carriage.Explanation. - N is the registered passenger seating capacity of the vehicle and X is the number of passengers carried on the vehicle or the number of passenger for whom seats are kept free and unimpeded by goods whichever is greater.
