HC refuses to 'bless' MCD plan to remove unregisterd rickshaws

The Delhi High Court today refused to "bless" or "sanction" the plan of the city's municipal corporations to remove cycle rickshaws which were unregistered and pulled by persons without valid licences.
"Why should we bless your plan? We are not going to sanction it. We are not here as a sanctioning authority. Why should we endorse your plan?" a bench of justices S Ravindra Bhat and S Muralidhar said while dismissing MCDs' plea.
The Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCDs) had also sought to levy a fine of Rs 50 as well as charge Rs five per day towards storage of such cycle rickshaws.

"We find no reason to grant the prayers sought in the application," the court said.
It also disposed of North MCD's plea seeking modification of an earlier order directing it to remove encroachments from carriageways in Chandi Chowk saying the ownership of roads of width 60 feet or above are vested in Delhi government.
Refusing to grant the plea, the court observed that as per provisions of Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, ownership of roads are vested with MCDs.

It, however, directed all authorities, including Delhi government to ensure the encroachments are removed soon.
Meawnhile, BSES Yamuna Pvt Ltd (BYPL) informed the court it could not remove some of its transformers, which were on the by-lanes, as the public works department had not commenced ducting work due to non-finalisation of proposal for running trams in the walled city.

This submission prompted the court to dub the entire trams proposal as a "red herring" and asked Delhi government "what is this tram business?"
Delhi government's Additional Standing Counsel Naushad Ahmed Khan told the court that two meetings had been held on the issue in the past and a third one would be held in 15 days by when a final decision would be arrived at.
The court was hearing a petition filed by NGO Manushi Sangathan in 2007 on the issue of redevelopment of the walled city and creation of non-motorised vehicle lanes.