Delhi HC order on e-rickshaws Tuesday

The Delhi High Court will Tuesday pass an order on whether to lift the ban on the plying of e-rickshaws in the capital till the law is amended to bring them under the ambit of the Motor Vehicles Act.

A division bench of Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Siddharth Mridul reserved their order Aug 29 while observing that it seems the central government was not keen on lifting the ban on e-rickshaws.

The bench banned plying of e-rickshaws on the city roads n July 31, saying they were illegally running and were hazardous to other traffic as well as citizens.

The Centre then moved the court asking to review its order of banning e-rickshaws as thousands of people and their livelihood were being affected by the ban.

Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand sought the stay be vacated, saying e-rickshaw operators live on the basis of their earnings and the government was seeking an exemption or interim directions till Oct 15, by which the government will be able to bring an amendment in the rules under the Motor Vehicles Act.

After the ban, the Centre made certain proposals saying the state transport department will issue identity card-cum-temporary permission to drive e-rickshaws till Oct 15.

The court has time and again asked the Centre how could it allow e-rickshaws to ply illegally.

The Centre has argued that it came up with draft rules on plying of these battery-operated vehicles, and these have been submitted to the law ministry.

Advocate Sugriv Dubey, appearing for social activist Shahnawaz who filed the petition to ban e-rickshaws, however, told the bench that due to the e-rickshaws, two major accidents have taken place and two people have died.

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