If erickshaws can get licences as TSR, why are we here: HC

The Delhi High Court today questioned the litigation on the issue of plying of erickshaws in the national capital if there is a provision giving time till September for these vehicles to obtain commercial licences to run as three-wheeled scooter rickshaws (TSRs).
"If this is so, then why are we here? If they (erickshaws) can ply in the meantime, then why are we here? Implement the advertisement," a bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Siddharth Mridul asked after perusing the advertisement according to which erickshaws have time till September to obtain licences to ply as TSRs.
As per the advertisement, erickshaws also had three months time to get a certificate verifying the type of vehicle it is.

The March 1 advertisement also said that those persons selling battery-operated rickshaws would need to get certificates from state transport department to undertake sale of such vehicles and violations of these norms would lead to action being taken under the Motor Vehicles Act.
The bench asked the Centre and Delhi government to take instruction on whether the advertisement is being implemented and what is the status.
Meanwhile, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Pinky Anand informed the court that the state department will be opening 13 special counters to issue commercial licences to those driving erickshaws and added it is one of the temporary measures which have been put in place to regulate plying of these vehicles till proper rules are framed.

She also said that the municipal corporations would notify the roads where erickshaws cannot ply, like high-speed roads and added that Delhi police will regulate the number of passengers and weight that the erickshaws will carry.

She sought that till proper rules are framed under the Motor Vehicles Act "to accommodate" erickshaws, they be allowed to ply, which was also the plea of advocate R K Kapoor, appearing for Battery Rickshaw Welfare Association.
The bench, however, said, "You can't ask us to do something that you can't do under the law" and sought any judgement where courts have passed orders as sought by Centre, Delhi government and erickshaw operators.

The bench will hear the matter tomorrow.