Strictly enforce the law for registration of e-rickshaws: Delhi HC
January 16, 2017Justice Manmohan of Delhi High Court directed the state transport authority along with Delhi Police to frame a comprehensive policy with regard to e-rickshaws and to strictly enforce the law for registration of e-rickshaws plying on roads in the national capital.
The petitioner, BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd, had sought a directions to the respondents to take steps, make arrangements and effect measures for expeditious creation/setting up of arrangements and necessary infrastructure for charging of e-rickshaws plying in the petitioner’s area of supply in the NCT of Delhi.
The petitioner stated that the government had failed to put in place any mechanism and infrastructure for charging and re-charging of e-rickshaws plying on the roads of NCT of Delhi. The judgment stated that the intent of the policy should be to ensure that only registered e-rickshaws ply on the roads after payment of registration and insurance policy charges.
The judgment also stated that the state transport authority and Delhi Police should consider that the number of e-rickshaws should be capped, keeping in view of the carrying capacity of the Delhi roads.
These fresh directives have come in the wake of reports that e-rickshaws are still plying on the roads without having proper registration in the national capital. Till now, e-rickshaws are released after being impounded after the owner gives an undertaking that he will not violate the law in future. There are approximately one lakh e-rickshaws in Delhi, of which only about 15,000 have due registration. The rest are plying on the roads without registration. This important ruling, will now not allow authorities to release the e-rickshaws impounded until it is brought in the conformity with the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Earlier, e-rickshaws were not required to follow the Motor Vehicles Act. But, the government brought these rickshaws under the ambit of the Motor Vehicles Act making it mandatory for the owners to fulfill all those conditions as required for the taxi and auto rickshaws. Prior to government’s decision, if someone met an accident due to rash or negligent driving of an e-rickshaw, the victim was not entitled for any claim, as it required registration of the vehicle under the laws. Without having registration under the Motor Vehicles Act, insurance of e-rickshaws was not possible. According to reports, most of the e-rickshaw drivers don’t have a driving license. This makes the high court ruling very significant
The petitioner, BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd, had sought a directions to the respondents to take steps, make arrangements and effect measures for expeditious creation/setting up of arrangements and necessary infrastructure for charging of e-rickshaws plying in the petitioner’s area of supply in the NCT of Delhi.
The petitioner stated that the government had failed to put in place any mechanism and infrastructure for charging and re-charging of e-rickshaws plying on the roads of NCT of Delhi. The judgment stated that the intent of the policy should be to ensure that only registered e-rickshaws ply on the roads after payment of registration and insurance policy charges.
The judgment also stated that the state transport authority and Delhi Police should consider that the number of e-rickshaws should be capped, keeping in view of the carrying capacity of the Delhi roads.
These fresh directives have come in the wake of reports that e-rickshaws are still plying on the roads without having proper registration in the national capital. Till now, e-rickshaws are released after being impounded after the owner gives an undertaking that he will not violate the law in future. There are approximately one lakh e-rickshaws in Delhi, of which only about 15,000 have due registration. The rest are plying on the roads without registration. This important ruling, will now not allow authorities to release the e-rickshaws impounded until it is brought in the conformity with the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Earlier, e-rickshaws were not required to follow the Motor Vehicles Act. But, the government brought these rickshaws under the ambit of the Motor Vehicles Act making it mandatory for the owners to fulfill all those conditions as required for the taxi and auto rickshaws. Prior to government’s decision, if someone met an accident due to rash or negligent driving of an e-rickshaw, the victim was not entitled for any claim, as it required registration of the vehicle under the laws. Without having registration under the Motor Vehicles Act, insurance of e-rickshaws was not possible. According to reports, most of the e-rickshaw drivers don’t have a driving license. This makes the high court ruling very significant
OUR TAKE
E rickshaws have made travelling in Delhi not just easy but also cheap. But it is important that these rickshaws are registered so that the act of Motor Vehicle can apply on them. The Delhi High court to curb the movement of unregistered e-rickshaws on road passed noteworthy directions. It was a much-needed step to monitor the movement of these vehicles and a step to make them liable in cases of negligent driving.
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