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MVA 1988 (Amended 2019)ORIGINALChapter III
Section 27
Necessity for Conductor's Licence
Licensing of Conductors of Stage Carriages
Fine: ₹5,000Compoundable: YesEndorsement: Yes
BARE ACT PROVISION
Legal Text
No person shall act as a conductor of a stage carriage unless he holds an effective conductor's licence issued to him authorising him to act as such conductor; and no owner or person in charge of a stage carriage shall cause or allow any person who is not licensed as a conductor under this Chapter to act as a conductor of such stage carriage.
Simplified Explanation
Section 27 is the conductor's equivalent of Section 3 (necessity for driving licence) — establishing that every conductor working on a stage carriage (bus or minibus operating in ordinary public service) must hold a valid conductor's licence. The section imposes dual liability: on the unlicensed conductor directly, and on the owner or person in charge of the bus who causes or allows an unlicensed person to conduct. This dual-liability structure mirrors Section 5 (owner's responsibility for unlicensed drivers). A conductor's role includes checking tickets, ensuring passenger safety, managing boarding and alighting, and maintaining order — responsibilities that require formal training and certification. The conductor's licence requirement applies specifically to stage carriages (public transport buses) and does not extend to contract carriages or private vehicles.
Historical Context
The conductor's licensing system reflects the public transport focus of the MVA — stage carriage operations involve mass passenger transport where conductor competence directly affects public safety. The system has become less prominent with the growth of ticketless/cashless bus systems but remains legally mandatory.Critical Changes
Penalty increased from ₹200 to ₹5,000 under MVA Amendment 2019.
Electronic ticketing systems have transformed the conductor's role but licensing requirement remains.
Practical Scenarios
"A KSRTC bus conductor without a valid conductor's licence — Section 27 violation, ₹5,000 fine."
"A private bus company deploying an unlicensed person as conductor — Section 27 violation for both the conductor and the company."
Common Queries
Yes — Section 27 requires every person acting as conductor of a stage carriage (public bus/minibus) to hold a valid conductor's licence. This applies to KSRTC, BEST, DTC, and all other state and private stage carriage operators.
Section 27 applies specifically to stage carriages. A charter bus operates as a contract carriage — its 'conductor' (if any) technically does not require a conductor's licence under Section 27, though state rules may differ.