Delhi HC notice over contempt plea on plying of e-rickshaws

The Delhi High Court Tuesday issued a show cause notice after a contempt petition was filed against the city police and transport department for not taking action against plying of e-rickshaws in the capital despite a ban.

Justice V.K. Shali issued the notice, asking the two departments to explain why contempt proceedings not be initiated against them for not following the court's order.

The court sought response from them by Dec 18.

The government Tuesday told Justice Shali that a draft notification on permitting plying of e-rickshaws was issued Oct 8 by the transport ministry and the final notification will be issued soon.

A division bench had said Sep 9 that the ban on plying of "illegal" e-rickshaws in the national capital would continue till the law is amended to bring them under the ambit of the Motor Vehicles Act.

It had said that "what is prohibited by law is not permitted in action".

It had confirmed that the ban imposed July 31 would stay, holding that the plying of e-rickshaws on the roads of Delhi "was and is unauthorised and illegal".

In July, the bench had banned plying of e-rickshaws on the city roads, saying they were running illegally and were hazardous to other traffic as well as citizens.

The bench had turned down the central government's request to let e-rickshaws ply till they are made lawful by parliament as thousands of people and their livelihood was being affected by the ban.

The contempt plea and main petition was filed by social activist Shahnawaz through advocate Sugriv Dubey who said that due to the e-rickshaws, two major accidents have taken place and two people have died.

He also said 137 cases have been registered against e-rickshaw drivers for rash driving.