Excavator is a Motor Vehicle under Motor Vehicles Act: Andhra Pradesh HC Expands Accident Liability Scope

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has held that an excavator qualifies as a "motor vehicle" under Section 2(28) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

The ruling came in a case involving a fatal accident caused by an excavator operating in a public area. The Court noted the vehicle was mechanically propelled, used beyond factory premises, and exceeded the prescribed engine capacity, thereby bringing it under the Act's scope.

Relying on R.S.R.T.C. v. Santosh (2013), the Court stressed function and location over design, expanding insurer liability and urging stricter compliance by construction and insurance sectors.