The Delhi High Court will pronounce its order on September 9 on whether to allow plying of e-rickshaws in the Capital till the rules are framed under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 for regulating them on the roads. A Division Bench listed the matter for orders after conclusion of arguments on a writ petition seeking regulation of operations of battery-operated rickshaws.
The Court has already imposed a ban on plying of e-rickshaws in Delhi through its interim orders passed on July 31. The matter was brought to the Court through a public interest writ petition which alleged that these vehicles had posed a risk to the people and traffic on roads.
Additional Solicitor-General Pinky Anand submitted a proposal for directions to the Bench, comprising Justice B. D. Ahmed and Justice Siddharth Mridul, while informing that the Union Law Ministry was considering the draft rules on the subject and would take action by October 15.
The interim ban on plying of e-rickshaws will continue till September 9. Ms. Anand sought directions for vacating the stay orders in view of progress made for amendment of rules.
The proposal for directions suggested that e-rickshaws be allowed to ply after the issuance of identity card-cum-temporary permission to their drivers for operating till October 15.
Lawyer Sugrive Dubey, representing petitioner Shanawaz Khan, produced a letter of the traffic police stating that 137 accidents involving e-rickshaws had taken place during the first six months this year. As many as 29 persons were injured in these accidents and two had lost their lives, he pointed out.
