Railways Act, 1989 · Chapter XV: Penalties and Offences
Section 161: Negligently crossing unmanned level crossing
If any person driving or leading a vehicle is negligent in crossing an unmanned level crossing, he shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one year.
Explanation.— For the purposes of this section, "negligence" in relation to any person driving or leading a vehicle in crossing an unmanned level crossing means the crossing of such level crossing by such person—
(a) without stopping or caring to stop the vehicle near such level crossing to observe whether any approaching rolling stock is in sight, or
(b) even while an approaching rolling stock is in sight.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 14 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 161
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