1. Short title, extent and commencement. —(1) This Act may be called the Petroleum Act, 1934.
3
[(2) It extends to the whole of India 4
***].
(3) It shall come into force on such date5
as the Central Government may, by notification in the
Official Gazette, appoint.
2. Definitions.—In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,—
(a) “petroleum” means any liquid hydrocarbon or mixture of hydrocarbons, and any inflammable
mixture (liquid, viscous or solid) containing any liquid hydrocarbon;
6
[(b) “petroleum Class A” means petroleum having a flash-point below twenty-three degrees
Centigrade;
(bb) “petroleum Class B” means petroleum having a flash-point of twenty-three degrees
Centigrade and above but below sixty-five degrees Centigrade;
(bbb) “petroleum Class C” means petroleum having a flash-point of sixty-five degrees Centigrade
and above but below ninety-three degree Centigrade;]
(c)
7
[“flash-point”] of any petroleum means the lowest temperature at which it yields a vapour
which will give a momentary flash when ignited, determined in accordance with the provisions of
Chapter II and the rules made thereunder;
8
[(d) “to transport petroleum” means to move petroleum from one place to another in India and
includes moving from one place to another in India across a territory which is not part of India;]
1. This Act has been extended to Berar by the Petroleum (Berar Extension) Act, 1937 (23 of 1937). All rules made and
notifications issued under this Act and in force in British India at the commencement of Act 23 of 1937 (i.e., the 7 October,
1937) have also been extended to Berar by s. 3 of the latter Act.
This Act has been extended to Goa, Daman and Diu (with modification) by Reg. 12 of 1962, s. 3 and the Schedule.; extended
to Pondicherry on 1-10-1963 vide Reg. 7 of 1963, s. 3 and the First Schedule; to Dadra and Nagar Haveli (w.e.f. 1-7-1965)
vide Reg. 6 of 1963, s. 2 and the First Schedule and to Lakshadweep (w.e.f. 1-10-1967); vide Reg. 8 of 1965, s. 3 and
Schedule.
2. The words “and other inflammable substances” omitted by Act 24 of 1970, s. 2 (w.e.f. 1-8-1976).
3. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for sub-section (2).
4. The words “except the State of Jammu and Kashmir” omitted by Act 62 of 1956, s. 2 and the Schedule (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).
5. 30th March, 1937, Gazette of India, 1937, pt. I, p. 632.
6. Subs. by Act 24 of 1970, s. 3, for clause (b) (w.e.f. 1-8-1976).
7. Subs. by s. 3, ibid., for “flashing-point” (w.e.f. 1-8-1976).
8. Subs. by s. 3, ibid., for clause (d) (w.e.f. 1-8-1976).
4
(e) “to import” petroleum means to bring it into 1
[India] by land, sea or air, otherwise than during
the course of transport;
(f) “to store” petroleum means to keep it in any one place, but does not include any detention
happening during the ordinary course of transport;
(g) “motor conveyance” means any vehicle, vessel or aircraft for the conveyance of human
beings, animals or goods, by land, water or air, in which petroleum is used to generate the motive
power;
(h) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act.