No relief for e-rickshaws as court refuses to stay ban order

The Delhi High Court on Friday said that it will not allow e-rickshaws to ply in the Capital unless they carry valid registration, insurance papers and its drivers have driving licences.

The Delhi high court on Friday said that it will not allow e-rickshaws to ply in the Capital unless they carry valid registration, insurance papers and its drivers have driving licences.

A division bench of justices BD Ahmed and Siddharth Mridul refused to vacate its earlier order banning the vehicles even as additional solicitor general (ASG) Pinky Anand contended it had affected the livelihood of the operators.

“We are concerned about the livelihood of these operators, but our concern is also with the citizen of India,” the HC said.

“One thing we are very clear is that people driving on the road must have driving licences and they should know how to drive,” it added.

Anand submitted draft guidelines to regulate e-rickshaws, which included bringing the vehicles under the ambit of the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA).

The ministry of road transport and highways said it would finalise the guidelines in about two months and asked the court to vacate its ban till then.

The HC said it cannot suspend the law for two months. Pointing out that untrained people and even minors were plying e-rickshaws, the court said the government should set up camps to speed up the registration of these vehicles and ensure insurance cover.

It took the example of auto-rickshaws that have a colour code and uniforms for its drivers.

The traffic police say, passengers are not insured for injury or death as these vehicles do not have insurance cover. Moreover, as the e-rickshaws are not regulated, the police are unable to prosecute the drivers.

Awaiting permission

“Steps on commencing the operations of e-rickshaws will be taken after the court gives permission for it,” union transport minister Nitin Gadkari told reporters on the sidelines of a workshop on Friday.

(With inputs from PTI)