THE PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE ACT , 1991 — THE PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE ACT, 1991

THE PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE ACT , 1991 No . 6 of 1991 MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE (Legislative Department) New Delhi , the 23rd January , 1991 Magha , 3 , 1912 (Saka) The following Act of Parliament received the assent of the President on the 22nd January , 1991 , and is hereby published for general information:- An Act to provide for public liability- insurance for the purpose of providing immediate relief to the persons affected by accident occurring while handling any hazardous substance and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto . BE it enacted by Parliament in the forty-first Year of The Republic of India as follows:- 1 . (1) This Act may be called the Public Liability Insurance Act , 1991 . It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may , b) notification , appoint . 2 . In this Act , unless the context otherwise requires . - 1[(a) " accident " means an accident involving a fortuitous , sudden or unintentional occurrence while handling any hazardous substance resulting in continuous , intermittent or repeated exposure to death , of or injury to , any person or damage to any property but does not include an accident by reason only of war or radio-activity;] (b) " Collector means the Collector having jurisdiction over the area in which the accident occurs; (c) " handling " , in relation to any hazardous substance , means the manufacture , processing , treatment , package , storage , transportation by vehicle , use , collection , destruction , conversion , offering for sale , transfer or the like of such hazardous substance; (d) " hazardous substance " means any substance or preparation which is defined as hazardous substance under the Environment (Protection) Act , 1986 (29 of 1986) , and exceeding such quantity as may be specif