Court raps MCD for curbs on rickshaws

Delhi High Court has taken exception to the “unrealistic” approach by the MCD in banning cycle rickshaws in some parts of the city, including the Chandni Chowk area, and putting a ceiling at 99,000 licenses.

Delhi High Court has taken exception to the “unrealistic” approach by the MCD in banning cycle rickshaws in some parts of the city, including the Chandni Chowk area, and putting a ceiling at 99,000 licenses.

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The court wondered why no limit was fixed for the number of cars a person can own. “Why are you so enthusiastic in banning cycle rickshaws? Why do not you issue guidelines limiting the number of cars a person can have in the city?” said a division bench of Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice Sanjiv Khanna on a PIL filed by Manushi, an NGO.

The NGO alleged the measure has taken away the livelihood of many. “It seems the total number of cars in Delhi are more than the combined number of cars in three metros — Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata,” said the bench and added that in view of the increasing pollution, several countries including China and Holland have adopted bicycles and cycle rickshaws as a mode of transport.

Manushi’s counsel Prashant Bhushan said the guidelines were violative of Fundamental Rights under Article 14 (Right to livelihood) of the rickshaw pullers in the city. The policy compelled most of the six lakh cycle rickshaws to ply illegally, he added.

The court will hear the case on February 19.