Maharashtra passed a new lift safety Act in 2018, but we found no start date. What societies should do
The Maharashtra Lifts, Escalators and Moving Walks Act, 2017 and its March 2026 amendment both start only on a notified date, and we found no notification. The 1939 law, with six-monthly inspection and a fine of up to ₹500, appears still to apply. The new Act would raise the maximum fine to ₹50,000.
Rules as of 13 October 2026.
Maharashtra has a modern lift safety law on the statute book, but we could not find a notification that brings it into force. If that is still the position, the 1939 lift law continues to apply to your society's lifts. Here is what is enacted, what is only proposed, and what it could mean for your monthly charges.
Enacted but not shown as in force
The Maharashtra Lifts, Escalators and Moving Walks Act, 2017 is Maharashtra Act No. XV of 2018. The Governor's assent was published in the Gazette on 17 January 2018. Section 1(3) says it comes into force on a date the State Government appoints by notification. The official printed text carries a footnote: "This Act has not come into force till 1st January 2019."
The India Code text of the old Maharashtra Lifts Act, 1939, current "as on 17th July 2025", shows no repeal. The 2017 Act would repeal the 1939 law only on commencement (Section 39). We found no commencement notification after that date, but we cannot rule one out, so check the Gazette or ask the Electrical Inspector's office.
What changed in 2026
L.A. Bill No. VII of 2026 was introduced in the Legislative Assembly on 4 March 2026 to amend the 2017 Act. Its stated reason: the Chief Electrical Inspector handles all lift licensing for the state and the office is overloaded. The bill creates Regional Superintending Engineers for licensing, places Electrical Inspectors in districts or inspection divisions, and replaces references to the IPC with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The text appended to the Act on PRS records it as Maharashtra Act No. XII of 2026, with assent on 25 March 2026. It also takes effect only on a date set by notification. So both the Act and its 2026 amendment are, on the documents we read, waiting for a start date.
Old law versus new law
| Item | 1939 Act (text as on 17 Jul 2025) | 2017 Act (not shown as in force) |
|---|---|---|
| Inspection | At least once in six months (s.11) | At least once a year, or shorter if notified (s.17) |
| Licence | Not covered in what we read | Working licence valid 20 years, renewable up to 5 years at a time (s.8) |
| Owner duties | Not covered in what we read | Approved maintenance contractor (s.18), third-party insurance (s.23), log book (s.24) |
| Penalty | Fine up to ₹500, plus up to ₹50 a day if continuing (s.13) | Fine up to ₹50,000, plus up to ₹1,000 a day if continuing after conviction (s.32) |
Who is the "owner"? The 2017 Act defines it as a person or body who "owns or operates or maintains" the lift. It does not mention housing societies by name, so in a society the duty would fall on the body that maintains the lift, which usually means the society. Confirm this with an advocate once rules are published.
What it could mean for society charges
Insurance, an approved contractor and a licence renewal are costs someone has to bear. Societies normally meet lift costs from members' contributions, but check your bye-laws for how they are shared. An illustration: a 40-flat society with two lifts. Assume (illustrative) an annual maintenance contract of ₹60,000 per lift and third-party insurance of ₹10,000 per lift. That is ₹1.4 lakh a year, or ₹3,500 per flat a year, about ₹292 a month. The penalty exposure is larger than the premium: a continuing breach for 30 days after conviction could mean ₹80,000 under the 2017 Act's ceiling (₹50,000 plus ₹1,000 x 30), against ₹2,000 under the 1939 Act (₹500 plus ₹50 x 30). These are maximums, not fixed fines.
Claims we could not verify
Social media posts have spoken of over 2 lakh lifts, hundreds of new inspector posts, mandatory third-party audits and a compulsory inspection certificate. We found none of these in the Act, the 2026 amendment or the bill statement. The Act provides for inspection by an Electrical Inspector and a contractor's certificate at the licensing stage, not a separate third-party audit regime. Any rules framed later could change this.
Checklist for your society
- Find the current lift licence or inspection record and note the last inspection date.
- Keep a log of breakdowns and maintenance, even though a formal log book is required only under the 2017 Act once in force.
- Check the maintenance contract: who is the contractor, what does it cover, who is liable after an accident.
- Ask your insurer whether passenger liability is covered.
- Budget the cost in the annual accounts before a notification forces it.
This article explains the law and does not replace advice from an advocate.
What this means for you
This week: (1) Ask your society's committee for the current lift licence or last inspection record and its date. (2) Check that the maintenance contract names the contractor and that passenger third-party insurance exists. (3) Do not accept demands for new 'lift audit' charges until the sender cites the Act section or a notification. (4) Ask the Electrical Inspector's office whether the 2017 Act has been brought into force. (5) Have your lift costs shown as a separate line in the annual budget.
Sources
- Maharashtra Lifts, Escalators and Moving Walks Act, 2017 (Act XV of 2018) with 2026 amendment note, PRSprimary
- L.A. Bill No. VII of 2026, amending the 2017 Act (PRS copy)primary
- Maharashtra Lifts Act, 1939, India Code (text as on 17 July 2025)primary
- Maharashtra Lifts, Escalators and Moving Walks Act, 2017, Chief Electrical Inspector siteprimary
- Nagpur Today, 31 Oct 2018: Act not yet notified, objections to retrospective licensingreport
