In Brief
The Supreme Court held that motor vehicle offences can be prosecuted under both the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Indian Penal Code independently. The Court set aside the Gauhati High Court's direction limiting prosecutions to the MV Act alone. Rejecting the 'special law prevails over general law' principle, the Court found that the two statutes operate in separate spheres with distinct offences and ingredients. Section 26 of the General Clauses Act permits dual prosecution provided the offender is not punished twice. The Court emphasized that prosecution under the IPC is necessary for proportionate sentencing in serious cases, as the MV Act allows only six months imprisonment while the IPC permits up to ten years, essential for deterring the alarming rise in road traffic fatalities.
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